Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) hangs for a shot against Southern Utah guard Drake Allen (3) and Southern Utah forward Maizen Fausett (12) during the first half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

LAWRENCE — Jalen Wilson scored a career-high 33 points and No. 6 Kansas survived a letdown against Southern Utah, hanging on for an 82-76 victory on Friday night.

Wilson set a career best for a second straight game after scoring 25 points in the Jayhawks’ 69-64 win over No. 7 Duke in Indianapolis on Tuesday night. The Thunderbirds (3-2) didn’t figure to provide as tough a challenge, but they hung with Kansas (4-0) until the final minute at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks had their biggest lead of the game, 77-69, with 2:11 remaining. Southern Utah responded with a 7-0 run, including five straight points by Tevian Jones, to get within one point with 1:03 left.

Kansas guard Gradey Dick (4) pulls up for a three to give the Jayhawks a four-point lead late in the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Gradey Dick’s 3-pointer with 40.6 seconds remaining made it 80-76 and Southern Utah didn’t make another basket.

Norm Roberts coached his final game for Kansas in place of Bill Self, who served the last of his school-imposed four-game suspension stemming from recruiting violations first uncovered in a federal investigation.

Jones scored 25 points for Southern Utah, Maizen Fausett added 14 and Harrison Butler had 12.

The Jayhawks got 18 points from Dick and 14 from Dajuan Harris.

Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) elevates for a bucket over Southern Utah guard Cameron Healy (10) during the first half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Southern Utah outrebounded Kansas 45-41, including 14-6 on the offensive glass. The Thunderbirds hit four of their first seven 3-point attempts to build a 22-16 lead in the first half. Wilson had the final two baskets before halftime to give the Jayhawks a 41-39 edge.

THE TAKEAWAY

Southern Utah: The Thunderbirds were not intimidated. They answered every early Kansas run and led in the final minute of the first half.

Kansas: The Jayhawks need another scorer besides Wilson and Dick. The duo scored 27 of the team’s 41 points in the first half and finished with 51 of the Jayhawks’ 82.

UP NEXT

Southern Utah: Heads to the Islands. The Thunderbirds will face Texas State next Friday in the opening round of the North Shore Classic in Laie, Hawaii.

Kansas: Plays North Carolina State on Wednesday in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.

The Kansas flag flies across the court before tipoff against Southern Utah on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) elevates to the bucket against Southern Utah center Jason Spurgin (14) during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas guard Gradey Dick (4) gets under the bucket for a reverse layup against Southern Utah during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas center Ernest Udeh Jr. (23) battens for position inside with Southern Utah center Parsa Fallah (22) and Southern Utah guard Harrison Butler (15) during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) gets up for a bucket over Southern Utah guard Harrison Butler (15) during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas guard Gradey Dick (4) celebrates a late three to put the Jayhawks up by four over Southern Utah on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Acting head coach Norm Roberts gets the Jayhawks attention during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) looks for a rebound over Southern Utah center Parsa Fallah (22) during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) knocks the ball away from Southern Utah guard Drake Allen (3) during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) celebrates as the Jayhawks begin to pull away from Southern Utah late in the game, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) battles for a ball with Southern Utah guard Tevian Jones (55) during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) gets around Southern Utah guard Drake Allen (3) during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) pulls up for a shot against Southern Utah center Jason Spurgin (14) during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World

Kansas guard Gradey Dick (4) gets under Southern Utah guard Dee Barnes (13) for a shot during the first half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas guard Gradey Dick (4) gets under Southern Utah guard Dee Barnes (13) for a shot during the first half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) gets inside for a bucket past Southern Utah center Parsa Fallah (22) and Southern Utah guard Harrison Butler, left, during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) celebrates a three against Southern Utah during the first half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World

Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) tries for a steal from Southern Utah guard Drake Allen (3) during the first half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World

Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) hangs for a shot against Southern Utah guard Drake Allen (3) and Southern Utah forward Maizen Fausett (12) during the first half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.