No. 1 Kansas Survives Scare, Beat Colorado In Overtime 72-66

Boulder, CO (Sports Network) - Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich each scored 16 points and top-ranked Kansas needed overtime to beat Colorado, 72-66, giving the Jayhawks their 14th straight win over the Buffaloes.

Marcus Morris added 15 points, including six in overtime, and had eight rebounds for Kansas (21-1, 7-0 Big 12), which won despite going a paltry 18- of-38 from the foul line. Aldrich also had 14 rebounds and five blocks for the Jayhawks, who beat Colorado for the 41st time in the last 42 meetings.

It was the second straight overtime win for the Jayhawks, who posted an 81-79 victory at Kansas State on Saturday. Kansas has won seven in a row since it's lone loss, January 10 at Tennessee.

Marcus Relphorde had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Colorado (11-11, 2-6), which lost for the fifth time in six games. Cory Higgins ended with 14 points and Levi Knutson 13 in defeat.

The Buffaloes nearly pulled off the upset despite playing without freshman guard Alec Burks, who is day-to-day with a sprained left knee. Burks is Colorado's second-leading scorer, behind Higgins.

Kansas wasted a five-point lead late in regulation. Morris scored on a layup for a 59-54 lead with nearly four minutes left, but layups from Austin Dufault and Relphorde made it a one-point margin.

Both teams then committed turnovers in the final two minutes. Knutson stole the ball from Brady Morningstar, but Morningstar came back with a steal on the ensuing possession.

Collins was off the mark on a floater in the lane and Colorado grabbed a 60-59 edge on a pair of free throws from Relphorde with 56 seconds to go.

Collins converted 1-of-2 free throws with 38.2 on the clock, but the Buffaloes essentially missed a chance for the win when Higgins missed poorly on a three- point try in the waning seconds.

Kansas' desperation attempt at the end of regulation went awry, but the Jayhawks scored the first seven points of OT and held on.

Higgins made a pair of foul shots for a 67-64 margin with over a minute left, but Collins drove around two players in the lane and scored on a layup to provide the necessary breathing room for the Jayhawks.

Kansas bolted to a 24-8 lead past the midway point of the opening half, but Colorado came charging back and was within 30-26 following a Relphorde layup with nearly 3 1/2 minutes remaining. It was 34-28 at the break.

The Buffaloes netted the first six points of the second half, but Kansas then wasted a 52-45 lead at the midway point.

Kansas went 4-of-13 from beyond the arc, compared to 8-of-27 for the Buffaloes...The last time Colorado defeated a top five opponent at home was No. 3 Texas, 93-80 on February 4, 2003...Kansas held a 45-41 rebounding edge. Colorado has been outrebounded in its last 13 games.