After Little’s layup and free throw gave Kansas a 63-60 lead, Jean-Paul Olukemi hit a jumper from the lane to pull Oklahoma State within one with 56.7 seconds left. Kansas then failed to execute offensively and Brady Morningstar’s three-point attempt with the shot-clock winding down came up well short with 20 seconds to play.
The Jayhawks, though, answered with a great defensive effort and Olukemi was forced to take desperate shot from the right wing that failed to draw iron as time expired.
Marcus Morris scored 16 points and Morningstar added 11 for Kansas (30-2), which claimed the outright Big 12 regular-season title and will next face the winner between Colorado and Kansas State in Friday’s semifinals.
Keiton Page poured in 23 points and Olukemi finished with 17 for the Cowboys (19-13), who had advanced to the quarterfinals with a 53-52 win over Nebraska on Wednesday.