Kansas led 26-20 with eight minutes left in the first half, but the offense cooled off, allowing Colorado to hang around. Dickinson was the one keeping things steady, dominating inside and helping the Jayhawks rebuild a double-digit lead with just over five minutes to play.

Colorado took its only lead when Hammond scored in the paint to make it 39-38 with 15:39 remaining. Dickinson answered with a jumper and a three-point play and Kansas never trailed again. The Buffaloes managed to even the score twice and trailed 62-60 after Hammond nailed a 3-pointer with 4:12 left. They would get no closer.

Adams hit another runner in the paint and then Dajuan Harris scored inside as the Jayhawks started 4-4. That perfection extended to 6-6 from the field and forced Colorado to call a timeout down 14-4 four minutes into the game.