KU basketball vs. Texas Tech recap: Jayhawks clinch share of Big 12 regular season title

LAWRENCE — Kansas men’s basketball’s 2022-23 regular season continued Tuesday with a Big 12 Conference game at home against Texas Tech.

The No. 3 Jayhawks came in after a win at home against West Virginia. The Red Raiders came in after a loss at home against TCU. This was the second time Kansas and Texas Tech met this season.

Was coach Bill Self’s Jayhawks squad able to protect home court against another conference foe? Was coach Mark Adams’ squad able to avoid a regular season sweep at the hands of its host? This was senior night for Kansas.

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Here's what happened inside Allen Fieldhouse:

Kansas is a Big 12 champion

FINAL: Kansas 67, Texas Tech 63

Kansas leads 58-53 against Texas Tech with 3:58 left in 2nd half

Getting to the free-throw line has been an emphasis for both sides in the second half. Texas Tech is 7-for-9, and that comes after not taking any in the first half. Kansas is 9-for-10, and overall 13-for-16 for the game.

The Jayhawks very well could end up sealing this game from the free-throw line, but it could also use a bucket or two from Gradey Dick. The star freshman still has yet to score or hit a shot. A 3-pointer from him could be the dagger.

Kansas leads 51-49 against Texas Tech with 7:46 left in 2nd half

Kansas still isn't giving up its lead. It's still doing what's necessary to keep Texas Tech from getting in front. But, man, does this game look like it's going to be a battle all the way to the end.

Jalen Wilson has 17 points to lead Kansas and all scorers. He and Kevin McCullar Jr. have combined for 29 points so far. They're delivering offensively, but need some more help.

Kansas leads 45-41 against Texas Tech with 11:52 left in 2nd half

Texas Tech isn't going anywhere. The Red Raiders are now down just four points with a little less than 12 minutes left in regulation. They've gained some momentum back from the Jayhawks.

Look for Kansas to try to get into the paint and either finish at the rim, or get to the free-throw line, to break out of a recent slump. The Jayhawks are doing much better there tonight, than they are shooting the ball from behind the arc. Gradey Dick has no points, and is 0-for-6 from the field — including 0-for-5 on 3s.

Kansas leads 43-36 against Texas Tech with 14:45 left in 2nd half

Texas Tech was the side bringing the energy to start the second half. It looked at one point as if the Red Raiders were going to be able to wrestle the lead away from the Jayhawks pretty quickly. But Kansas has been able to weather that storm, and still leads by seven points at a stoppage with a little less than 15 minutes left in regulation.

Both teams are shooting much better from the field to start the second half. Given how poorly the shots went down in the first half, it seemed like this is what would happen. It's all evening out, at least so far.

The second half has started

It's Texas Tech ball to start.

HALFTIME: Kansas 30, Texas Tech 21

Kansas leads 27-21 against Texas Tech with 1:56 left in 1st half

Kevin McCullar Jr. is certainly having some fun playing against his former team. McCullar is up to 10 points to lead Kansas, which leads by six points with a little less than two minutes left in the first half. McCullar's 10 points lead all scorers so far.

Bill Self is clearly frustrated, though, that the Jayhawks are settling for too many 3s. Right now, Kansas is 4-for-17 from behind the arc. On two-point attempts, Kansas is 6-for-11.

Kansas leads 16-11 against Texas Tech with 8:00 left in 1st half

This hasn't been a pretty first half by any means. Although the teams are playing well defensively, there have also been too many open shots players have missed. And it's unclear when that trend is going to stop.

Dajuan Harris Jr. leads Kansas with five points. De'Vion leads Texas Tech with seven points. Maybe each side trying to get to the free-throw line more often is the answer.

Kansas leads 9-7 against Texas Tech with 11:48 left in 1st half

Joseph Yesufu just came off the bench as one of Kansas' first substitutions, and almost immediately hit a 3-pointer. That's massive for the Jayhawks, who had missed their first six attempts from behind the arc. It's helped Kansas go into this next break with a two-point lead with a little less than 12 minutes left in the first half.

Ernest Udeh Jr. was the other substitution just now for Kansas, as he came in for KJ Adams Jr. while Yesufu came in for Gradey Dick. Udeh's presence gives the Jayhawks a lot more size inside. Maybe that can be a part of Kansas unlocking something offensively.

Kansas leads 4-2 against Texas Tech with 15:22 left in 1st half

Shot-making hasn't been a common theme so far tonight, with Kansas shooting 2-for-8 from the field and Texas Tech shooting 1-for-5. The teams are a combined 0-for-5 from behind the arc, with the Jayhawks missing four and the Red Raiders missing one. It's unlikely this trend continues over the course of the whole contest.

Defensively, though, Kansas has seen some positives. Gradey Dick may not have hit a shot yet, but he does have two blocks. And overall, the Jayhawks have forced four turnovers without committing any themselves.

The game is underway

Kansas won the opening tip-off and this one is underway.

Here are the starters

It's Jalen Wilson's last game inside Allen Fieldhouse

It's Kevin McCullar Jr.'s last game inside Allen Fieldhouse

Here's more on Zach Clemence's status

It doesn't look like Zach Clemence will be available for Kansas

A good sign for Kansas

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here's what happened when Kansas basketball played Texas Tech