Horns Handle Hawks, 72-69

AUSTIN, Texas - Despite 22 points from Darrell Arthur, the University of Kansas men's basketball team fell to the Texas Longhorns 72-69 in front of 16,755 fans at the Frank Erwin Center on Monday.

The Jayhawks had a shot to tie the game with the clock running out, but an off-balanced and guarded three from Mario Chalmers just rattled off the rim.
 
KU moved to 23-2 overall and 8-2 in the Big 12, while Texas improved 20-4 overall and 7-2 in the league.
 
After the two teams traded baskets to open the ballgame, Texas held a narrow advantage for the first 14 minutes of the game.  The Jayhawks were able to tie the score a handful of times and finally took their first lead at the 5:56 mark.
 
Kansas gained that first lead when Mario Chalmers picked off an A.J. Abrams pass and Brandon Rush was able to convert on the other end to give the Jayhawks a 33-31 edge.
 
Kansas' big men dominated the paint in the first half, scoring 24 in the lane compared to only six for UT.  Darrell Arthur led all first-half scorers with 14 points, while Darnell Jackson added 11.  Led by Sasha Kaun with five boards, Kansas out-rebounded the `Horns 23-13 on the glass.
 
Texas did most of its first-half damage from long range, making 6-of-13 from beyond the arc.  Connor Atchley made all four of his 3-point attempts and led UT with 12 points at the break.  Abrams added 10 in the first half.
 
The Longhorns came out hot in the second half and knotted the score at 46-all at the 17:44 mark.  The game remained tight until just after the 10:00 minute mark when the Jayhawks went scoreless between the 9:49 and 4:29 on the clock.  UT went on a 10-0 scoring run during that span.
 
Kansas broke its drought at the 4:29 mark on a pair of free throws by Chalmers.  Behind Chalmers, who scored eight of the Jayhawks' last 12 points, KU clawed its way back but in the end could not overcome the Longhorns and fell 72-69.
 
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak against Texas, but was Kansas' third-straight against UT in Austin.
 
Arthur led all scorers with 22 points to go with six rebounds.  Jackson and Chalmers each chipped in 13 and Brandon Rush added 10.
 
Texas was led by Atchley with 16 points.  Abrams and Damion James each contributed 14 points.
 
KU returns to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb. 16 when it hosts the Colorado Buffaloes at 12:45 p.m. on ESPN Plus.  Many Jayhawk basketball alums will be in attendance as the athletics department celebrates 110 years of Kansas Basketball and pays tribute to the 20th anniversary of the 1988 NCAA Championship team.

• Box Score
• Notes

Story courtesy KUAC