McCormack scores 17 as No. 6 Kansas edges Oklahoma

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — David McCormack hit the clinching short hook shot with 12.8 seconds to go, giving the Kansas big man 17 points, and the sixth-ranked Jayhawks edged short-handed Oklahoma 63-59 on Saturday.

Ochai Agbaji added 14 points and Jalen Wilson had nine points and 11 rebounds, helping Kansas (11-2, 4-1 Big 12) avoid back-to-back losses in Allen Fieldhouse for the first time since the first season under Roy Williams in 1988-89.

The Sooners (6-4, 2-3), playing without Brady Manek and Jalen Hill because of COVID-19 protocols, took a 57-56 lead when Austin Reaves hit a jumper from the free-throw line with 2 1/2 minutes to go. But McCormack scored over Oklahoma's Kur Kuath to give Kansas the lead back, and Wilson's 3-pointer made it 61-57 with 1:26 to go.

Oklahoma had a chance when Kuath dunked Alondes Williams' miss with 37 seconds left, and coach Lon Kruger elected to play defense rather than foul. Kansas worked the shot clock down to a couple of ticks before McCormack's clinching shot.

Reaves led the Sooners with 20 points and nine rebounds. Williams and De'Vion Harmon added nine points apiece.

Kansas was playing at home for the first time since Texas delivered a 25-point walloping last week, matching the most lopsided win by an opponent in the 65-year history of Allen Fieldhouse. And almost from the start, there were signs the Jayhawks — still missing backup guard Bryce Thompson to a back injury — were in for another tough afternoon.

They committed a flurry of early turnovers, including six by Wilson in the first half alone. They struggled again from the 3-point line. They were even edged on the boards, where Kansas historically has been tough to beat.

If not for an 11-0 run by the Jayhawks midway through the first half, the Sooners would have enjoyed quite the halftime cushion. But a lull of their own allowed Kansas to get back in the game, and it took Reaves converting Tyon Grant-Foster's turnover in the final 15 seconds into a layup at the other end to give the Sooners a 33-31 advantage.

Despite going 8 1/2 minutes without a field goal, the Jayhawks were still tied 49-all with just over 5 minutes remaining.

Garrett and Wilson, both of whom struggled to get shots to go, began to come through in crunch time. Garrett's driving layup gave Kansas a 56-55 lead, and Wilson drained a 3-pointer from the wing to make it 61-57 and provide a cushion.

McCormack provided the baby hook moments later to seal the win.

SIDELINED SOONERS

Oklahoma announced Manek and Hill would miss the game about 45 minutes before tipoff. Elijah Harkless started in place of Manek, who is the team's second-leading scorer at 13.2 points per game. Manek and Hill, who is averaging 3.7 points off the bench, must undergo another series of tests before being cleared to return to the team.

BIG PICTURE

Oklahoma: Reaves was 7 of 14 from the field but just about everybody else struggled to find their shots — Harkless was 2 of 8 and finished with five points. The Sooners also got into foul trouble late in the game.

Kansas committed 16 turnovers that the Sooners turned into 17 points. They also were just 11 of 19 from the foul line. Both of those stats usually lead to losses, but the Jayhawks managed to make enough plays down the stretch.

UP NEXT

The Sooners return home to face TCU on Tuesday. The Jayhawks visit Oklahoma State the same night.

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