Azubuike, Dotson steer No. 6 Kansas past Texas 66-52

AUSTIN, Texas  — Devon Dotson returned from a hip injury to score 21 points, including the final seven of the game for Kansas, leading the No. 6 Jayhawks over Texas 66-57 Saturday.

Dotson made a long 3-pointer with 2:49 to play, then closed out the victory with four straight free throws in the final 39 seconds.

Udoka Azubuike scored 17 points and a scoring burst from him early in the second half allowed Kansas (14-3, 4-1 Big 12) to take the lead.

Kansas closed the game with a 12-3 run that started with consecutive baskets from Marcus Garrett. The Jayhawks got a big break when Garrett was initially called for a charge, but the foul was quickly reversed. The layup counted, Garrett made the free throw and Jayhawks led 59-54 before Dotson closed it out.

Dotson’s 3-pointer was just the second of the game for Kansas, the best shooting team in the Big 12 from long range. Kansas attempted only 10, opting instead to push the ball inside to Azubuike, who was locked in a battle under the basket with Texas’ Jericho Sims.

Sims scored 20 points for the Longhorns (12-5, 2-3) and tied the game at 54-all. Texas gave him little help from the outside. After averaging 12.5 3-pointers in their previous two games, the Longhorns were just 6 of 20 on Saturday.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: Dotson’s return will be big for the Jayhawks going forward. Kansas coach Bill Self let Dotson decide when he’d return, and he showed a quick burst to the basket on several drives down the middle. Isaiah Moss, who started in Dotson’s place against Oklahoma and scored 20 points, had a quiet game against Texas, with five points in 14 minutes.

Texas: The Longhorns let what would’ve been a big upset get away. A win could have changed a lot for the Longhorns going forward, but instead, Texas now has two home losses in its first five Big 12 games. The inconsistency of the 3-point shooting continues to be baffling. In all three Big 12 losses, Texas has made six or fewer from long range.

UP NEXT

Kansas hosts Kansas State on Tuesday.

Texas plays at No. 12 West Virginia on Monday.