Minus Griffin, Sooners Fall To Kansas

In the second half, No. 15 Kansas took over first place in the Big 12 with an 87-78 victory Monday night against third-ranked Oklahoma.

Monday, February 23rd 2009, 4:26 pm

By: News On 6

Associated Press

NORMAN, OK -- Tyshawn Taylor scored a career-high 26 points and Sherron Collins added 22 of his 26 points in the second half as No. 15 Kansas took over first place in the Big 12 with an 87-78 victory Monday night against third-ranked Oklahoma.

Cole Aldrich was able to dominate inside with the Sooners' missing preseason All-American Blake Griffin because of a concussion. He had 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds as the Jayhawks (23-5, 12-1 Big 12) took control in the race for their fifth straight conference title.

The Sooners (25-3, 11-2) deployed a full-court press to eat away at the Jayhawks' lead that reached 20 midway through the second half, but the rally could only cut the deficit to three in the final 3 minutes.

Willie Warren led the way with 23 points for Oklahoma, which has lost two in a row.