photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. hits a short range jump shot against Texas Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Allen Fieldhouse.

After a week off, the Kansas men’s basketball team returned with a purpose during its 86-67 win over Texas on Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks (21-6, 9-5 Big 12) remain undefeated at home this season.

Despite being without Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas essentially controlled things from start to finish against a Texas (17-10, 6-8) team that had been playing much better recently. KU jumped out to an 8-2 advantage right away in a game that didn’t feature its first media timeout until under the 12-minute mark.

After the game’s frantic start, Kansas coach Bill Self trotted out a lineup of Elmarko Jackson, Jamari McDowell, Johnny Furphy, KJ Adams Jr., and Parker Braun for the next two minutes. The group hadn’t played together all year but managed to hold serve and outscore Texas by two points amid a back-to-back stretch of media timeouts.

From there, the Jayhawks took complete control of the contest. And they did so with plenty of style points, too.

At the 8:12 mark in the first half, Nick Timberlake delivered arguably the best dunk for Kansas this season. Point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. stole the ball away from the Longhorns and found Timberlake running the court in transition. Harris launched the ball above the rim to Timberlake, who rose above everyone and flushed it down through contact. His and-one put KU up 26-15.

The sequence, which took place moments after Timberlake recorded two different turnovers on one possession, led to a thunderous roar in Allen Fieldhouse. He and the Jayhawks never really had to worry after that.

Jackson recorded a nifty behind-the-back pass to Hunter Dickinson late in the first half to put Kansas up 20. Adams, who is from Austin, Texas, made tough shots all night in what could be his final game against Texas.

Dickinson led the team with 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting, adding seven rebounds and one block. Adams (16), Furphy (16), Harris (14), and Timberlake (13) all reached double figures to provide a well-balanced attack.

The Jayhawks shot 61.5% as a team, but only went 3-for-8 from long range in the comfortable win.

Kansas will host BYU on Tuesday.

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