STILLWATER, Okla. — Behind a dominant opening-half performance from freshman star Darryn Peterson, the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks secured an 81-69 victory over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Peterson was nearly unstoppable in the first twenty minutes, scoring 20 of his game-high 23 points to help the Jayhawks (20-6, 10-3 Big 12) bounce back from a disappointing loss at Iowa State last weekend. Peterson finished 7-of-12 from the field, including a lethal 6-of-10 from three-point range. Despite his scoring slowing in the second half—where he added only three points—Kansas remained firmly in the driver’s seat.
Freshman teammate Bryson Tiller provided the interior muscle and versatility, notching a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while also dishing out seven assists. Senior Tre White contributed 16 points, and Elmarko Jackson added 14 to a balanced Jayhawk attack that shot 11-of-24 from behind the arc.
For Oklahoma State (16-10, 4-9), the loss marks their fourth straight defeat since an upset win over BYU. Parsa Fallah led the Cowboys with 21 points, and Anthony Roy added 16. The defeat is a significant blow for an OSU team that entered the night looking for a marquee win to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume.
Key Game Moments
- The Early Blitz: Kansas sprinted out of the gate, leading 10-1 as Oklahoma State went over three minutes without a field goal to start the game.
- The Peak Lead: The Jayhawks extended their advantage to 39-16 before the Cowboys clawed back with an 11-0 run late in the first half.
- The Half: Kansas went into the locker room with a comfortable 43-29 lead.
- Second Half Stability: Although Peterson’s offensive production dipped, Kansas shot 48% from the field after the break to stifle any potential Cowboy comeback.
On the glass, Flory Bidunga matched Tiller with 11 rebounds and protected the rim with four blocks, helping Kansas maintain its defensive intensity throughout the night.
Up Next:
Kansas returns home to Lawrence to host Cincinnati on Saturday.
