Kansas edges Baylor 56-55!!

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#12

Waco Texas isn't the most friendliest place to play a ball game. Especially when you're on the road for your conference opener. 2 years ago the The Baylor Bears handed the Kansas Jayhawks a 23 point beat down. That was not the case last night when the Jayhawks, off some late game heroics, narrowly edged the Bears 56-55.

In what is beginning to become a trend, the Jayhawks started off slow. KU lost the tip, but added the first points from Junior Perry Ellis. Ellis has been cold lately, but was showing signs of life fighting in the paint. That would be KU's only lead until the 19:10 mark in the 2nd half. Baylor Senior Kenny Chery tied it up and Baylor went lights out from there. Between Baylor Freshman Johnathan Motley and Chery, Baylor started to control the tempo of this game early. Chery couldn't miss behind the arc and Motley was controlling the paint. Fortunately that was the only thing going well for the Bears and what kept the score from getting out of hand.

Courtesy: kusports.com

Kansas never let up though. Kansas Junior Jamari Traylor was playing with that high intensity level we love so much. Traylor ended up with two fouls early in the 1st half, prompting Coach Bill Self to give Freshman Cliff Alexander and Sophomore Landen Lucas some minutes. Lucas pulled down 2 rebounds and added 2 points for the half. Sophomores Frank Mason III, Brannen Greene and Freshman Kelly Oubre Jr. each added to KU's numbers. The first half was played about as bad as one could imagine. Fortunately for Kansas, Baylor's last part of the 1st half was about as bad. In this writers opinion, the biggest highlight of the game so far was Baylor's Motley completely wiping Traylor from existence on a dunk with about 3 minutes left to play. Traylor was set and took every bit of the 6'9" 230 pound Motley head on. Every bit......I got to hand it to Traylor, I would have dove for cover screaming like a little girl! Traylor earned every bit of that charge. Unfortunately it was short lived as Mason was call for the same call the very next play on the opposite end. The 1st half came to an end with Baylor leading the Jayhawks 22-18.

Courtesy: kusports.com

The 2nd half got started off with quick bucket by Traylor. Again Traylor, off an assist by Oubre Jr, fought his way inside and earn that one. Traylor may not put up 25 a night, but one has to wonder where this team would be without the man....Traylor answered less than a minute later with another bucket in the paint and earning an old fashion 3pt play to regain the lead. Kansas turnovers and back-to-back 3's by Baylor Junior Lester Medford, gave Baylor the lead again. Self called for a timeout. This crowd had lit the Ferrell Center on fire. Traylor answered back with another hard fought bucket inside. More missed shots by KU had the Jayhawks in a bad drought. Going over 2 minutes without a bucket and Baylor's Chery hitting another 3, gave the Bears a 6 point lead with 15:56 left to play.

Courtesy: kusports.com

The Ferrell Center had gone mad. Mason was quick to silence the crowd with a big 3, causing Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew to call time, but a bad foul committed Green sent Medford to the line. Medford sunk both free throws giving Baylor a 3 point lead.

In the span of a minute and a half, KU had a bucket by Mason, steal by Traylor, a monster dunk by Alexander, block by Alexander and a layup by Traylor. The basketball Gods were awoken, twitter broke and the Jayhawks had turned it up!  KU had regained the lead again. Baylor's Rico Gathers hit the 2nd half of a pair of free throws tying it up again. Big Cliff would have none of that. Alexander answered with his 2nd dunk of the half giving the lead back to KU.

Baylor would not lay down. If KU wanted this win, they would have to earn it. Off 2 minutes of lights out shooting, Baylor would regain the lead and pull it to 5 with 9:49 left to play. A dunk by Ellis and a cold blooded 3 by Greene would tie it up once again. No matter the victor tonight, everyone in attendance got their monies worth tonight! Chery gave Baylor the lead once again off another 3. Chery would go 4-7 from the arc putting up 25 points on what would be the only Bear in double figures. Chery carried this entire team on his back tonight. Thankfully, this would be the last 3 on the night. Traylor was playing with 4 fouls. At the 5:18 mark, Chery drove the lane and caught a "love bump" off Traylor earning him is 5th foul and a final trip to the bench. KU's guard dog was done. Bucket was good and Chery hit his free throw giving Baylor another 2 point lead.

Courtesy: kusports.com

Mason tied the game again with a fast break bucket, only to be answered with a tip in from Gathers giving Baylor their last lead of the game. Selden who had been somewhat quiet the entire game, found that spark. Experience beats talent my friends and Selden showed that tonight. With just under 3 minutes left to play, Selden hit a jumper tying the game for the 8th and final time. Chery answered back bringing it within 1. Oubre went for a rebound with less that 10 seconds left causing the ball to get hit out of bounds. After a good 2 minutes of review, KU was awarded the ball with a 1 point lead. Greene was immediately fouled. I've said it before, free throws win games. Green has been lights out from the line year. Greene hit both buckets giving KU a 3 point lead.

With Chery getting the inbound and fearing the game would go into overtime, Self called for the foul. Cherry hit both, bringing the lead to just 1 point. With 3 seconds left, Mason missed the first of a one-and-one giving Baylor the ball off a defensive rebound by Taurean Prince. Baylor's last attempt was killed by the buzzer giving the Jayhawks the win! 56-55. The Jayhawks would once again have the sweet taste of a Conference Opener victory!

The Jayhawks are back at The Phog this Saturday the 10th to host the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. Tip off is at 2pm and can be seen on ESPNU.

!!!ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!