Kansas outlasts Texas in a classic

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Texas considers Texas A&M; and Oklahoma rivals, and doesn’t particularly like losing to Texas Tech. Kansas always highlights Kansas State and Missouri on its schedule.

But when it comes to memorable games, the rivalry between Texas and Kansas is quickly becoming one of the best in college basketball -- and it seems to be getting better by the game.

Mario Chalmers had a career-high 30 points and eight of Kansas’ Big 12 tournament-record 15 three-point baskets, helping the fifth-ranked Jayhawks beat No. 6 Texas, 84-74, Sunday for their third straight Big 12 title victory over the Longhorns.

Trading dunks and three-pointers, the Big 12’s regular-season co-champions reeled off runs as if it were an NBA All-Star game, causing the sellout crowd of 19,047 to spend as much time on its feet as in its seats.

Texas and Kansas played a near-perfect first half, making a combined 27 three-pointers and committing only 14 turnovers between them.

“That was one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of,” Kansas Coach Bill Self said.

Kansas (31-3) shot 15 for 25 from behind the arc, breaking the tournament record of 14 set by Colorado in 1995 and matched by Missouri in 2001.

Brandon Rush had 19 points and made six three-pointers to help the Jayhawks win their sixth Big 12 title in 12 years, matching the combined total of the conference’s 11 other teams.

The Jayhawks closed the game on a 14-3 run, making seven of eight free throws during final 54 seconds to hold off the Longhorns (28-6).