BYU ends No. 7 Kansas' 19-game home win streak, 76-68
AP
Feb 27, 2024
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) BYU coach Mark Pope had just been given a technical foul late in the game, and the volume was quickly ramping up inside Allen Fieldhouse, where so many opponents over the years have wilted down the stretch against mighty Kansas Jayhawks.
Pope walked back to his huddle and realized something special about his players.
“They were the ones composed,” he said. “They were like, ‘Hey, we’re OK. Let's keep working.' And they did.”
Led by 18 points apiece from unflappable Dallin Hall and Jaxson Robinson, the Cougars wiped away a 12-point deficit and then held on for a 76-68 victory Tuesday night, ending the seventh-ranked Jayhawks' 19-game home winning streak.
“All of us are lifelong college basketball fans,” Pope said, “and this arena, this team, this coach, these players - you know, it's an all-time mecca. I think that's what makes this special. We talk about faith in our program, and certainly it is an important part of our university, and watching our guys' faith in each other tonight and faith in the process was special to watch.”
The Cougars (20-8, 8-7 Big 12) trailed 58-57 with 4:50 to go when Hall made two free throws for their first lead. A few minutes later, Noah Waterman hit a 3 to give BYU a 66-63 lead. And when Hunter Dickinson answered with a 3 for Kansas, Robinson hit two free throws and Hall made another 3 to send the Cougars to a win in their first trip to the Phog since 1971.
"They play hard and they challenged us on every front," Hall said, "but we responded and executed our game plan."
Dickinson had 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks (21-7, 9-6), who were just 3 of 15 from 3-point range and 19 for 31 at the foul line. Dajuan Harris Jr. added 12 points, KJ Adams Jr. scored 11 and Johnny Furphy finished with 10.
BYU won despite heavy foul trouble in part by going 13 of 34 from behind the 3-point arc.
“We played pitifully tonight, but when I say we played pitifully, I don't want to take something away from BYU,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “BYU was better than us. After we go up 12, the second half - they controlled it. We hoped to score. They actually ran offense to score. So give them credit. They caused us to look bad.”
Already playing without Kevin McCullar Jr., who missed his fifth game with a bruised knee, the Jayhawks experienced another scare when Nick Timberlake landed hard after going up for a rebound early in the game. The thud echoed through the fieldhouse, and Timberlake spent a couple of minutes in the locker room before eventually returning to the game.
Foul trouble hit BYU in the second half, when Hall picked up his fourth with 17:39 to go and Trevin Knell got his fourth - after a double-technical with Dickinson - just minutes later. But the Jayhawks were unable to take advantage at the offensive end, and that allowed the Cougars to stay within striking distance.
That's when Pope got called for his technical foul and the entire complexion of the game changed.
The poised Cougars suddenly began to rain 3-pointers, erasing a 56-50 deficit and taking their first lead at 59-58 on two free throws by Hall with 4:50 to play. Hall added two 3s of his own over the next few minutes, including one from the top of the key that gave the Big 12 newcomers a 71-66 lead with 1:31 remaining.
The Cougars were able to hold on the rest of the way for another signature win in their first season in the league.
“I've never seen an atmosphere quite like this,” Pope said afterward. “We're just really grateful we had an opportunity to come compete here. This is one of the meccas and we're just really fortunate to come away with a win.”
UP NEXT
BYU returns home to play TCU on Saturday night.
Kansas visits No. 15 Baylor on Saturday.
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1st Half
BYU
Cougars
29
KAN
Jayhawks
35
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Noah Waterman vs. Hunter Dickinson (Dajuan Harris Jr. gains possession)
19:31
+2
Dajuan Harris Jr. makes two point layup
0-2
19:09
Trevin Knell misses three point jump shot
19:07
Johnny Furphy defensive rebound
18:53
Hunter Dickinson misses two point jump shot
18:51
Trevin Knell defensive rebound
18:41
Johnny Furphy shooting foul (Aly Khalifa draws the foul)
18:41
Aly Khalifa misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:41
+1
Aly Khalifa makes regular free throw 2 of 2
1-2
18:30
+2
KJ Adams Jr. makes two point jump shot (Dajuan Harris Jr. assists)
1-4
18:30
Dallin Hall shooting foul (KJ Adams Jr. draws the foul)
18:30
+1
KJ Adams Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
1-5
18:22
Dajuan Harris Jr. personal foul (Dallin Hall draws the foul)
18:06
+2
Dallin Hall makes two point layup
3-5
17:38
Nicolas Timberlake misses three point jump shot
17:36
Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
17:24
Trevin Knell misses three point jump shot
17:22
Johnny Furphy defensive rebound
17:14
+2
Hunter Dickinson makes two point layup (Johnny Furphy assists)
3-7
17:14
Aly Khalifa shooting foul (Hunter Dickinson draws the foul)
17:14
+1
Hunter Dickinson makes regular free throw 1 of 1
3-8
17:02
KJ Adams Jr. blocks Spencer Johnson's two point layup
17:00
Nicolas Timberlake defensive rebound
16:40
KJ Adams Jr. misses two point layup
16:38
Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound
16:38
Hunter Dickinson misses two point layup
16:36
Aly Khalifa defensive rebound
16:31
Spencer Johnson misses two point jump shot
16:29
Jayhawks defensive rebound
16:04
Nicolas Timberlake misses three point jump shot
16:02
Johnny Furphy offensive rebound
15:58
Dajuan Harris Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:56
Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound
15:56
Noah Waterman personal foul (Hunter Dickinson draws the foul)
15:56
TV timeout
15:43
Dajuan Harris Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Trevin Knell steals)
15:37
Jaxson Robinson turnover (lost ball)
15:20
Noah Waterman shooting foul (Hunter Dickinson draws the foul)
15:20
Hunter Dickinson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:20
Hunter Dickinson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:20
Richie Saunders defensive rebound
15:06
+3
Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot (Fousseyni Traore assists)
6-8
14:44
Johnny Furphy misses three point jump shot
14:42
Richie Saunders defensive rebound
14:33
Richie Saunders misses three point jump shot
14:31
Johnny Furphy defensive rebound
14:25
+2
Hunter Dickinson makes two point dunk (Johnny Furphy assists)
6-10
14:02
Fousseyni Traore turnover (lost ball) (KJ Adams Jr. steals)
13:54
Trevin Knell personal foul
13:35
+2
Elmarko Jackson makes two point jump shot
6-12
13:13
Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
13:11
Fousseyni Traore offensive rebound
13:11
Jamari McDowell personal foul
13:06
+2
Trevin Knell makes two point layup
8-12
12:54
+2
Johnny Furphy makes two point layup (KJ Adams Jr. assists)
8-14
12:42
KJ Adams Jr. shooting foul (Trevin Knell draws the foul)
12:42
Trevin Knell misses regular free throw 1 of 3
12:42
+1
Trevin Knell makes regular free throw 2 of 3
9-14
12:42
+1
Trevin Knell makes regular free throw 3 of 3
10-14
12:21
KJ Adams Jr. misses two point jump shot
12:19
Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
12:10
+3
Jaxson Robinson makes three point jump shot (Fousseyni Traore assists)
13-14
11:54
+2
Parker Braun makes two point layup (Elmarko Jackson assists)