LAWRENCE, Kan. — Freshman star Darryn Peterson scored 27 points and seniors Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. delivered memorable performances as No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 104–85 on Saturday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
Peterson, a potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, was highly efficient for Kansas, shooting 10-of-15 from the field. The Jayhawks improved to 22-9 overall and 12-6 in Big 12 Conference play while securing a double-bye in next week’s conference tournament.
White, a transfer from Illinois, recorded 23 points and 11 rebounds in his lone regular season in Lawrence. Council, who transferred from St. Bonaventure, nearly posted a triple-double with 17 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in his final home game.
White’s performance marked his second consecutive double-double and seventh of the season, while Council notched his second double-double of the year and seventh of his career.
Kansas also recognized seniors Nginyu Ngala, Jayden Dawson, Wilder Evers and Justin Cross during the Senior Day ceremony as they played their final home games at Allen Fieldhouse.
The victory provided a much-needed boost for the Jayhawks, who had lost four of their previous six games entering the contest. The win also extended Kansas’ home winning streak over Kansas State to 20 consecutive games.
The Wildcats kept the game competitive early before Kansas seized control midway through the first half with a 9–0 run. The Jayhawks built a 46–33 halftime lead and pushed the advantage to nearly 20 points early in the second half.
Kansas State trimmed the deficit to 11 points a couple of times, but Kansas responded with a decisive stretch late in the game. The turning point came with about 12 minutes remaining when C. J. Jones fouled Peterson and was assessed a technical foul. The resulting free throws sparked a Kansas run that extended the lead to 78–54 with under 10 minutes to play.
Up Next
The Jayhawks will open postseason play in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri after earning a double-bye.
