MANHATTAN — Once all the extracurricular issues were put aside, Kansas and Kansas State showed what a rivalry is all about on the basketball court.
Kansas had a strong run at the end of the first half and the start of the second half, then K-State answered with a late flurry before the No. 2 Jayhawks escaped with a 72-63 victory in the Sunflower Showdown on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Jayhawks held a 17-point lead early in the second half but the Wildcats stormed back to within three points with just over two minutes remaining, but KU’s Devonte’ Graham made 4 of 4 free throws and Frank Mason went 1 of 2 at the line in the final 20 seconds and the Jayhawks had their first win in Bramlage in three years.