KU Star's 30 Points Fuel Jayhawks' Big 12 Quarterfinal Upset Over Texas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas guard [Star Guard Name] erupted for 30 points, leading the Jayhawks to an upset victory over Texas in the Big 12 men's basketball tournament quarterfinals Thursday at T-Mobile Center. The final score mirrored a gritty 73-63 win, echoing Texas' own upset of No. 11 Kansas in 2019 but flipping the script this time for the Lawrence-based program. [Star Guard Name]'s performance, including clutch three-pointers and drives to the basket, powered KU past a Longhorns team that had won two of the past three Big 12 titles, per initial reporting from the Kansas City Star.

The win propels Kansas into Friday's semifinals against a yet-to-be-determined opponent, keeping alive their bid for a conference crown in the heart of Big 12 country. Phog Allen Fieldhouse faithful will note this as redemption after Texas' dominant 76-56 rout of KU in the 2023 championship game at the same venue. Kansas coach Bill Self praised the team's resilience postgame, highlighting defensive stops in the final minutes that sealed the deal amid the roaring Kansas City crowd, just a short drive from the Jayhawks' Lawrence home.

For Kansas fans, this quarterfinal triumph adds fresh drama to a Big 12 race known for its intensity, with KU now eyeing a deep tournament run ahead of NCAA implications. The Jayhawks, who clinched their 12th straight regular-season title in 2016 against Texas Tech, showed vintage form. Semifinal matchups loom large as the tournament unfolds through the weekend in Kansas City.