No. 1 Kansas outlasts No. 2 Oklahoma, 109-106, in triple overtime

Perry Ellis had 27 points and 13 rebounds, Devonte Graham hit the go-ahead free throw in the third overtime and top-ranked Kansas outlasted the visiting Buddy Hield and second-ranked Oklahoma, 109-106, on Monday night in an early showdown of Final Four contenders.

Wayne Selden Jr. had 21 points and Graham finished with 20 for the Jayhawks (13-1, 2-0 Big 12), who had chances to win the game in regulation and each of the first two overtimes before finally getting it done.

Hield had a career-high 46 points for Oklahoma (12-1, 1-1), but he made two crucial turnovers in the final extra session, then missed a potential tying three-pointer at the buzzer as the Jayhawks celebrated.

Jordan Woodard hit six three-pointers and had 27 points for the Sooners, who were trying to extend their best start in 28 years. Ryan Spangler finished with 14 points and 18 rebounds.

It was a fitting conclusion for the first 1 vs. 2 matchup in two years, and the first pitting teams from the same conference since Ohio State and Michigan State of the Big Ten met on Feb. 25, 2007.

Woodard’s final three-pointer gave the Sooners a 106-104 lead, and they still led, 106-105, when Hield was stripped by Frank Mason with 17 seconds left. Graham took a pass in transition and was fouled at the other end, converting both free throws to give Kansas the lead.

After the Sooners called a timeout, Hield threw the ball away on the ensuing inbounds pass, and Mason added two more free throws with 8.6 seconds left for the final margin.

Hield finished 13 for 23 from the field, hitting eight three-pointers. His 46 points matched Wayman Tisdale for the sixth-highest scoring game in school history.