Colorado ended KU’s 23-game Big 12 Conference winning streak last season in Boulder, Colo., but the Jayhawks won the rematch Monday at the Coors Event Center, 77-62.
The Jayhawks (9-2) trailed 1-0 early after a free throw by David Harrison, but J.R. Giddens answered with a three-pointer and KU didn’t trail again.
Wayne Simien scored six of KU’s next eight points as the Jayhawks extended their lead to 13-8.
Harrison left midway through the first half with two fouls, and the Jayhawks and Simien took advantage inside, leading by as many as 16 points, 33-17 with four minutes left.
The Buffaloes (6-3) regained momentum, though, going on an 10-0 run over the next few minutes before Keith Langford ended the spurt with a put-back. Michel Morandis hit a three-pointer with less than 30 seconds left, drawing the Buffaloes within six points before Giddens dunked off an offensive rebound just before the buzzer sounded.
Simien continued his strong play early in the second half, battling down low and hitting three free throws in the first four minutes as KU extended its lead to 13 points, 47-34, five minutes in.
Colorado closed to within seven points, 53-46, with a 12-6 run, with Blair Wilson scoring the final eight points for the Buffaloes.
Kansas regained a double-digit lead two more times midway through the second half, including a 64-52 advantage. Colorado closed to within six points, 64-58, with 3:30 left before a jumper by Langford.
That shot started a 9-1 run by the Jayhawks, highlighted by a three-pointer by Aaron Miles, that put them out of reach.
Simien had 21 points and 14 rebounds for KU, Giddens had 15 points, and Miles had 12 points. Langford scored 18 points, Moulaye Niang had two points, and Christian Moody had two points.
David Padgett, who didn’t score, fouled out with just less than four minutes left. Jeff Graves had seven points before fouling out with six minutes left.
Michel Morandis scored 14 points for Colorado, and Harrison had 13 points. Wilson had 19 points, Antoine McGee hit a free throw, and Lamar Harris had six points.
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Scott Senger hit a basket for the Buffaloes, and Chris Copeland had two points. Glean Eddy has two points, and Jason Obazuaye had two points. Marcus Hall also hit a free throw.
The Jayhawks were 29-of-65 shooting, including 6-of-19 from three-point range. Kansas hit 13 of 17 free throws.
The Buffaloes were 20-of-54 shooting from the field, including 7-of-20 from long distance, and were 15-of-25 shooting from the free throw line.
All stats unofficial
The Jayhawks avenged their only Big 12 loss of the season behind 24 points and 14 rebounds from Nick Collison and 21 points and 13 rebounds by Wayne Simien.
Kansas (20-5 overall, 10-1 Big 12) led by as many as 23 points, 70-47, but Colorado pulled within six points in the final two minutes before the Jayhawks kept the Buffaloes at bay from the free throw line.
Simien left midway through the second half with a sore shoulder, but returned with eight minutes to play.
Kirk Hinrich scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds, Aaron Miles added 14 points and six assists, and Keith Langford had 11 points and six rebounds.
Michel Morandais led Colorado (15-9, 5-6) with 28 points, Blair Wilson added 21 points and 10 rebounds, and David Harrison scored 20 points, but grabbed just one rebound.
Kansas shot 48.6 percent (35-of-72) from the field and 65.6 percent from the free-throw line (21-of-32). Colorado shot 45.5 percent (30-of-66) from the floor and 76.9 (20-of-26) from the free-throw line.
The Jayhawks outrebounded the Buffaloes, 46-38, and had seven more assists. Both teams turned the ball over 15 times.
HALFTIME REPORT
Attempting to avenge their only Big 12 loss of the season, the Jayhawks led the Buffaloes by as many as 18 midway through the first half. Colorado finished the half on a 20-10 run, though, behind Blair Wilson’s hot shooting.
Wilson leads all players with 15 points — nine off three-pointers. He also leads Colorado with six rebounds.
Nick Collison leads the Jayhawks with 15 points and eight rebounds, and Wayne Simien has added nine points and six rebounds in his second game back from a shoulder injury.
Keith Langford has eight points and four rebounds, Kirk Hinrich has five points and is now 13th on KU’s all-time scoring list. Aaron Miles has four points and five assists, and Jeff Graves has three points and three rebounds.
Michel Morandis has scored 11 points for Colorado, and David Harrison has eight points.
KU shot 52.8 percent (19-of-36) from the field, but just 60 percent (6-of-10) from the free throw line. Colorado shot 43.2 percent (16-of-37) from the floor and 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from three-point range. The Buffaloes missed their first six three-point attempts, but hit four of their final five.
Both teams turned the ball over eight times, but Kansas outrebounded Colorado, 24-18, and had six more assists, 15-9.
