WACO, Texas — Despite impressive performances from Kevin McCullar Jr. and Hunter Dickinson, who both scored 20 points, No. 7 Kansas couldn’t secure a victory against No. 15 Baylor, losing 82-74 at Foster Pavilion on Saturday.
This defeat marked the first time this season that Kansas has suffered consecutive losses, dropping their record to 21-8 (9-7 Big 12). Baylor, on the other hand, had four players scoring in double figures, with Jayden Nunn leading the way with 18 points and Yves Missi contributing 17 points. The win improved Baylor’s record to 21-8 (10-6 Big 12) for the season.
McCullar Jr., the leading scorer in the Big 12, returned to the lineup after missing four of the previous five games and matched Dickinson’s 20 points. Dajuan Harris Jr. also had a solid performance with 12 points and nine assists for the Jayhawks.
Baylor held their largest lead of the game at 31-24 just before halftime, thanks to a 3-pointer by senior guard RayJ Dennis. However, Kansas responded with a 10-2 run, fueled by Harris’ impressive assists, including a give-and-go play with McCullar. Harris’ floater put the Jayhawks ahead 34-33.
The Jayhawks dominated in the paint, scoring 46 points, with 22 of them coming in the first half. Dickinson showcased his skills with an emphatic two-handed dunk, contributing to his 10 points before halftime. He also scored Kansas’ first six points of the game.
In the second half, Baylor outscored Kansas 47-40, building a 13-point lead with 8:36 remaining. Although Kansas managed to reduce the deficit to just four points with 1:43 left on the clock, Baylor held on and secured the victory with a final score of 82-74.
Kansas will return home to Allen Fieldhouse to face Kansas State in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Tuesday night.
