Kansas Survives! Peterson's Heroics Save Jayhawks From Texas Tech Upset!

LAWRENCE, KS – You know, sometimes college basketball games have that inevitable feeling of a slow burn building to a frantic finish. Last night's matchup between No. 11 Kansas and No. 13 Texas Tech was exactly that. Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson, who had been relatively quiet in the second half, absolutely exploded in the final minutes, sinking two clutch three-pointers that ultimately sealed a 64-61 victory for the Jayhawks.

Kansas Survives! Peterson's Heroics Save Jayhawks ...

Let's be clear, it wasn't pretty for a long stretch. Texas Tech, despite missing their starting point guard Christian Anderson due to illness, held a commanding 59-50 lead with just over six minutes remaining. LeJuan Watts was a force for the Red Raiders, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Honestly, at that point, many in Allen Fieldhouse probably felt that the Jayhawks' six-game winning streak was about to come to an end. And the Red Raiders looked determined to defend their undefeated home record.

But this is Kansas basketball, and you can never count them out. The Jayhawks dug deep, tightening up their defense and finding some much-needed offensive spark. That spark came in the form of Peterson, who, despite playing a season-high 35 minutes, hadn’t scored a single field goal in the second half until those crucial final moments. His first three, from the right corner, tied the game at 61 with 1:20 left. Then, with 44 seconds on the clock, he nailed another one to put Kansas ahead for good.

Talk about ice in his veins! To hit those shots, under that kind of pressure, especially as a freshman, speaks volumes about Peterson's potential. He finished with 19 points, a vital contribution to the Jayhawks' victory. Melvin Council Jr. added 16 points, and Flory Bidunga chipped in with 14. Bryson Tiller was a monster on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds. The rest of the team contributed, too, in a way that made me think of a well-oiled machine.

It was a tough loss for Texas Tech, especially playing without Anderson, who averages almost 20 points and leads the Big 12 in assists. You could see his absence affected their offensive flow down the stretch. They went cold, making only one of their last 12 shots. Still, Watts had a great game, and Donovan Atwell hit four 3-pointers. But in the end, Peterson's late-game heroics proved to be the difference. With this win, Kansas moves to 17-5 (7-2 in the Big 12), while Texas Tech falls to 16-6 (6-3). And it's a reminder that in college basketball, it's never over until the final buzzer sounds.