AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Timmy Allen hit the go-ahead jumper, then Marcus Carr delivered the game-sealing steal and free throws.
A few seconds later, Texas fans stormed the court.
The No. 20 Longhorns tightened up the Big 12 standings Monday night with an intense 79-76 win over No. 8 Kansas as they made the late plays and shots to overcome a blistering second-half shooting effort from the Jayhawks.
The Longhorns earned the biggest win so far for first-year coach Chris Beard, but the coach and players shrugged off the moment as one of many to come.
“It’s good for us but it’s not the biggest thing in the world,” said Allen, who scored 24 points in an impressive all-around performance. “We have higher goals than just beating somebody on our home floor.”
Texas outscored Kansas 7-0 in the final minute. The Jayhawks led 76-72 before the Longhorns’ Tre Mitchell, who had missed all five of his 3-point attempts, banked one in to get the Longhorns within one.
“That was big time, a shooter’s touch,” Texas forward Christian Bishop said.
Kansas then turned it over when Ochai Agbaji’s lob to David McCormack bounced off the front of the rim and Texas snatched the rebound. The Jayhawks then left Allen open just beyond the free-throw line for the go-ahead basket.
“I cut to my spot and I just raised up and shot it,” Allen said. “I like the midrange jumper, so I was happy about it.”
Kansas still had a chance to take the lead but Carr’s steal and free throws with 6 seconds left sealed the victory, Texas’ third in a row over the Jayhawks. Texas swept Kansas in the regular season last season.
Mitchell scored 17 and Carr finished with 10 points for the Longhorns (18-6, 7-4 Big 12).
Jalen Wilson scored 18 to lead the Jayhawks (19-4, 8-2), who still remain in first place in the Big 12. Agbaji, the leading scorer in the Big 12, finished with 11 points, nearly 10 points below his average.
Texas led 40-35 at halftime on a twisting floater from Andrew Jones before a Jayhawks turnover set up Carr’s buzzer-beater 3-pointer. Texas had missed its first 10 long range attempts before Carr swished from the right wing.
Kansas struggled in the first half to find the free-flowing offense that can flip a game in a flash. Texas guard Courtney Ramey didn’t score a point in the half, but his lockdown defensive effort on Agbaji held the Jayhawks guard to just seven points on just five shots in the half.
But Kansas kept pecking away and a hot shooting start to the second half — the Jayhawks made nine of their first 12 shots — eventually put them ahead on Josef Yesufu’s steal and dunk. Kansas shot 64 % in the second half against the No. 1 scoring defense in the country.
