Hunter Dickinson erupts for 32 points to push Kansas past Colorado

Hunter Dickinson had a season-high 32 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, KJ Adams Jr. scored 15 points, and Kansas beat Colorado 71-64 in Boulder, Colo., on Monday night for the Jayhawks’ second straight Big 12 Conference win.

Rylan Griffen contributed 10 points for Kansas (19-9, 10-7 Big 12), which entered the game unranked for the first time in 80 weeks and stopped a four-game road skid.

Dickinson averaged 25.5 points and 11 rebounds in two wins over Colorado this season.

Bangot Dak had 16 points and Julian Hammond III scored all 11 of his points in the second half for the Buffaloes (11-17, 2-15), who had an 18-5 edge in offensive rebounding.

The Jayhawks opened the second half by missing their first three shots and five of six free throws, which allowed Colorado to erase a five-point halftime deficit and take a 39-38 lead for its first of the night.

After Kansas jumped back in front with five straight points, and following a Javon Ruffin 3-pointer to bring Colorado back even at 46-46, the Jayhawks reeled off five straight points to regain the advantage.

Kansas tried to pull away but two dunks by Dak kept Colorado within range. After Flory Bidunga missed the front end of a 1-and-1, Dak’s putback dunk got the Buffaloes within 59-57. Dak then fouled Griffen on a 3-point attempt; Griffen hit all three free throws to push the lead back to five points.

Hammond answered with a 3-pointer, the teams traded misses, and Dajuan Harris Jr. made a driving layup to give Kansas a 64-60 lead with 3:18 left.

Following a Hammond turnover, Dickinson split a pair of free throws and later added a layup with 1:07 to go that allowed the Jayhawks to close out the win.

Kansas hit its first six shots of the game and raced out to a quick 14-4 lead. The Buffaloes closed within 26-20 with 8:42 left, the Jayhawks responded to lead by 10 again but Colorado scored six straight points to get within 32-28 and trailed 37-32 at intermission.

–Field Level Media