Lubbock, Texas — darrin peterson Happy to finally finish the game for No. 11 Kansas, and Jayhawks Certainly the standout new player was needed at the end against No. 13 texas tech.
“This is the first game I’ve made it to the end,” Peterson said. “I’ve been trying all year, so to finally be able to do it, it’s a blessing.”
Peterson scored 19 points while playing a season-high 35 minutes, but his only two field goals in the second half were late 3-pointers. He scored the tying basket on a contested shot from the right corner with 1:20 left, and hit again from the left wing with 44 seconds remaining. win 64-61 Monday night.
two days ago, Peterson scored 18 points in the first half But the then-number one didn’t play the final 16:46 minutes of the win. 13 BYU Due to cramps. His average is 21.1 points.
Peterson was tipped to be the expected top pick in the NBA Draft in June kansas state Last game due to ankle injury. The 6-foot-5 guard has also dealt with hamstring and calf issues this season while playing in 10 games overall for Kansas (17-5, 7-2 Big 12).
Before hitting a late 3, Peterson was shooting just 3 of 12 against the Red Raiders (16-6, 6-3).
Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, “I think he has something you are born with and you can’t teach. He has an incredible ability to raise his level when it matters most.” “That’s what he did tonight. I mean, the two plays he made were obviously the two biggest plays of the game for us.”
Tying shot after Tech turnover, made on preseason AP All-America forward JT ToppinAfter which his shot was stopped at the other end flory bidunga Before missing the second chance. What Pietersen did next proved to be a winner.
“Two key 3s…that was crazy,” Bidunga said.
“Coach Self told me to make a play,” Peterson said, after which he was asked where he got the confidence to finish like that. “The work I did and then my teammates and coaches did. My game was bad… shots weren’t really going. They protected me well, but I just trusted the work, so I think I had to make those shots.”
And they did so as they picked up the Jayhawks’ sixth consecutive win.
