In a game Kansas could not afford to overlook, the eighth-ranked Jayhawks delivered their most discouraging performance of the season.
Cincinnati used a late 20-8 run to pull away and stun No. 8 Kansas men's basketball 84-68 on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, handing the Jayhawks a damaging loss in Big 12 play and tightening the margin for error heading into Monday’s matchup with No. 2 Houston.
Here are three quick takeaways from Kansas’ loss:
1. Three-point disparity proved decisive
Kansas was undone both by its own shooting struggles and Cincinnati’s confidence from deep.
The Bearcats shot 12 for 21 from 3-point range, with timely makes halting every Kansas push. Jalen Celeste went 4 for 8 from beyond the arc, while Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam each knocked down two 3s. Thiam, who finished with a career-high 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting, stretched the defense and created matchup problems throughout.
Kansas, meanwhile, finished just 4 for 18 from 3-point range. Nearly half of those attempts came from freshman Darryn Peterson, who shot 1 for 7 from deep. The Jayhawks made only two 3-pointers in the first 38 minutes, failing to generate consistent perimeter production as Cincinnati packed the paint and sent pressure at the ball.
In a game that featured nine ties and 10 lead changes in the first half, the shooting gap created the separation after halftime.
2. Cincinnati controlled the glass
The Bearcats won the rebounding battle 40-29 and repeatedly punished Kansas with second-chance opportunities.
Cincinnati grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, many of which led directly to points during key stretches of the second half. While Kansas sophomore Flory Bidunga recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds for his 13th career double-double, the Jayhawks struggled collectively to finish defensive possessions.
Bryson Tiller managed just two rebounds, his lowest total of the season, and Kansas often looked a step slow tracking long rebounds off missed 3s. The extra possessions allowed Cincinnati to maintain control even when Kansas briefly regained the lead.
3. Late-game offense stalled
Kansas shot 27 for 61 from the field and lacked reliable shot creation down the stretch.
Peterson finished with 17 points in 32 minutes but faced aggressive double teams that forced the ball out of his hands. Tre White added 11 points, yet Kansas did not have a consistent answer once Cincinnati tightened defensively.
As the Bearcats closed on their decisive run, Kansas struggled to manufacture quality looks, missing floaters and contested jumpers while Cincinnati capitalized on the other end.
The loss drops Kansas to 20-7 overall and 10-4 in Big 12 play, raising the stakes considerably for Monday’s home test against Houston.