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Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) gets airborne for a bucket over Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson (11) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce congratulates Kansas head coach Bill Self following the Jayhawks’ 90-78 win over Kansas State on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas students go wild during pregame as the Jayhawks prepared for tipoff against Kansas State on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Bobby Pettiford Jr. (0) gets inside for a bucket against Kansas State during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) runs off the court slapping hands with the fans after the Jayhawks’ 90-78 win over Kansas State on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas head coach Bill Self converses with official John Higgins during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang yells across the court to an official after receiving a technical foul during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas head coach Bill Self gets in the ear of Kansas center Ernest Udeh Jr. (23) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) defends a shot from Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Gradey Dick (4) brings the ball up the court against Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas head coach Bill Self flashes a smile toward the fans as the Jayhawks leave the court following their 90-78 win over Kansas State on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward KJ Adams (24) catches a pass inside against Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) and Kansas State guard Desi Sills (13) during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) reaches to slap hands with Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) after drawing a foul against Kansas State during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward Zach Clemence (21) puts up a three against Kansas State guard Desi Sills (13) during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Gradey Dick (4) drives against Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) goes up to stuff a shot from Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15), Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) and Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) pressure Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward Zach Clemence (21) puts up a shot over Kansas State guard Desi Sills (13) during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) gets inside against Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson (11) and Kansas State center Abayomi Iyiola (23) during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) puts a shot off the glass against Kansas State during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Gradey Dick (4) puts up a shot against Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson (11) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) crashes inside against Kansas State during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) puts up a three over Kansas State forward David N'Guessan (3) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) elevates for a bucket against Kansas State forward David N'Guessan (3) and Kansas State forward Ismael Massoud (25) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) elevates to save a ball against Kansas State during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Bobby Pettiford Jr. (0) gets inside for a reverse bucket past Kansas State forward Ismael Massoud (25) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) gets inside for a shot against Kansas State forward Ismael Massoud (25) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) puts up a three over Kansas State forward David N'Guessan (3) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) gets inside for a bucket past Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson (11) during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
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Kansas and Kansas State tipoff on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
The Kansas Jayhawks only had to wait two weeks for its revenge. Well, if you want to get technical, a foul-happy rematch added a little over two hours of waiting time.
In the end, the Jayhawks would say it was worth it after they cruised to a 90-78 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats on Tuesday night inside Allen Fieldhouse. It came exactly 14 days after K-State secured an overtime win in the Manhattan version of the Sunflower Showdown.
No. 8 Kansas avenged that defeat by leading for all but one minute in the rematch. The Jayhawks led by as many as 13 in the first half. After the seventh-ranked Wildcats cut it back to six early in the second half, Kansas quickly responded and ballooned the lead back to double-digits.
The game was really never in doubt for the final 15 minutes of action, though the 8.5-point spread was up in the air down the stretch.
In some ways, the rematch was a carbon copy of the first game. The home team got out to a double-digit lead early before the visitors made a charge. There were plenty of fouls called to slow an otherwise up-tempo game.
The biggest difference was KU’s ability to shoot from beyond the arc. After going 6-for-29 from long range in the meeting on Jan. 17, Kansas connected on eight 3-pointers in the first half alone. The Jayhawks finished 11-for-27 for the game from long range, which marked their most 3-pointers since drilling 11 in a win over West Virginia.
Jalen Wilson, who led the Jayhawks with 20 points in the win, continued his heater by knocking down four 3-pointers by himself. His triple in transition was during a decisive run in the second half to help keep Kansas State from striking distance.
Unlike last time, Wilson didn’t have to do it all himself on Tuesday. Dajuan Harris Jr. opened the game with a 3-pointer before recording 18 points. Kevin McCullar Jr. knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to finish in double figures with 11 points.
After Tuesday’s result, both teams are 18-4 on the year and 6-3 in Big 12 play.
With the league race heating up, Kansas will travel to Iowa State on Saturday.
