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#5 KU loses to Oklahoma, drops third straight

By GRANT MEECH

KWCH 12 Eyewitness Sports

3:53 PM CST, February 9, 2013

NORMAN, Okla.

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The impossible happened a little after 5 p.m. CST in Norman, OK.

The Jayhawks couldn't lose three in a row, not to lowly Big 12 opponents, could they? Ask Lon Kruger and the rest of his Oklahoma Basketball team.

The Sooner stayed hot at home all afternoon and dropped Kansas, 72-66. This is the Jayhawks third straight loss in nearly seven years, a streak that dates back to February 21st 2005 that started against, oddly enough, Oklahoma.

All Kansas needed to do was play Kansas basketball - fly around to the ball, make three-pointers, finish dunks and fast break and defend like you're playing against JV. That didn't happen, not all of it.

KU didn't shoot awful, 46 percent on the road is very good but it came too late. How many times did Oklahoma counter a Kansas basket twofold? How many second chance points didn't they capitalize on? 

Foul trouble certainly didn't help them - Jeff Withey got his third early and then kevin Young fouled out, leaving head coach Bill Self nothing but Perry Ellis to put in. Ellis is still improving but his game isn't complete yet.

The sky is falling in Lawrence. Things are not good. To paint this picture as anything but dreery would be a lie but this isn't the worst basketball team in the country nor will they miss the tournament. (Remember when Duke lost to Miami by like 80 points?) A few things to figure out and they should be back to winning again.

Problem is: K-State comes to Lawrence on Monday and they could feast on a team that is seriously lacking confidence right now.

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Romero Osby scored 17 points, Steven Pledger added 15 and Oklahoma held off No. 5 Kansas 72-66 on Saturday to give the Jayhawks their first three-game losing streak in eight years.

The Sooners (15-7, 6-4 Big 12) snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series and took down a top 5 opponent for the first time since beating No. 4 Texas on Jan. 28, 2006.

Freshman Je'lon Hornbeak went 4 for 6 at the free throw line in the final minute, just enough to keep the Jayhawks (19-4, 7-3) at bay. Cameron Clark hit two free throws to finish it off, and fans stormed the court after Buddy Hield came up with a steal and then dunked as the final buzzer sounded.

Kansas had the nation's longest winning streak at 18 games before losing three straight for the first time since February 2005.