Quick Recap: Kansas lets two late leads slip away, falling to Houston 92-86 in double overtime.

 

Here’s a rewritten version of the article with streamlined language and refined structure:

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Kansas Stumbles Twice, Falls to Houston in Double Overtime Thriller

Disaster struck Kansas twice on Saturday night.

The Jayhawks held late six-point leads in both regulation and the first overtime period against higher-ranked Houston but faltered each time. Costly mistakes and missed opportunities sealed their fate as the 12th-ranked Cougars handed KU a rare home loss, 92-86, at Allen Fieldhouse.

Late-Game Struggles
In regulation, KU squandered its advantage with critical errors: allowing back-to-back floaters from Milos Uzan, committing a five-second violation despite having timeouts available, and fouling J’Wan Roberts to give up game-tying free throws.

During overtime, the woes continued. Dajuan Harris Jr. missed two crucial free throws, and turnovers set up Emanuel Sharp and Mylik Wilson for back-to-back 3-pointers. Forced to rally in double overtime, the Jayhawks couldn’t match the Cougars’ resilience.

The loss overshadowed standout performances by Rylan Griffen, who hit five 3-pointers en route to 17 points, and Flory Bidunga, who contributed 19 points and seven rebounds before fouling out.

Meanwhile, Houston thrived behind Roberts’ dominant 24-point night, Wilson’s season-high 18 points off the bench, and Uzan’s near triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.

First Half: A Game of Runs
Both teams traded defensive stops early, with Houston enduring injury scares as Emanuel Sharp briefly exited and Ja’Vier Francis went down. Kansas capitalized, building a 25-15 lead with contributions from Harris and Griffen.

Wilson sparked a Cougars comeback with nine quick points, cutting the deficit to one late in the half. KU regained control behind Harris’ playmaking and took a 38-31 lead into the break.

Second Half: Momentum Shifts
Houston came out strong in the second half, fueled by Wilson’s scoring surge and a 3-pointer from LJ Cryer. Kansas struggled with turnovers and went scoreless for over six minutes, allowing Houston to seize the lead.

Despite Houston’s struggles at the free-throw line, KU couldn’t capitalize. Late baskets by Dickinson and Griffen kept the Jayhawks competitive, but they faltered in the closing moments. A shot-clock violation and Uzan’s heroics forced overtime at 66-66.

Overtime Woes
Roberts carried Houston in overtime, repeatedly scoring against Dickinson. Griffen’s fifth 3-pointer gave KU a four-point cushion with under a minute left, but missed free throws and another costly turnover allowed Wilson to tie the game.

In double overtime, Sharp and Uzan hit clutch 3-pointers, and Roberts dominated the glass to secure the win. Kansas, unable to recover after Bidunga fouled out, fell short despite Mayo’s late three-point play.

Looking Ahead
Kansas will aim to rebound on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against UCF in a rematch of their Jan. 5 meeting, where KU cruised to a 99-48 victory. The Knights, 13-6 (4-4 Big 12), are coming off an 85-58 rout of TCU.

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