WACO, Texas -- LJ Cryer had 22 points with five three-pointers and 17th-ranked Baylor stretched its Big 12-best winning streak to five games with a 75-69 win over No. 9 Kansas on Monday night in a matchup of the last two national champions.
The reigning champion Jayhawks (16-4, 5-3 Big 12) coming off a 23-point home loss to TCU, lost their third consecutive game. It's only their fourth three-game losing streak in Coach Bill Self's 20 seasons.
Adam Flagler added 17 points, while Jalen Bridges and Langston Love each had 11 for 2021 champion Baylor (15-5, 5-3), which overcome another tough shooting night. The Bears were 37.1% from the field (23 of 62) two days after a 62-60 win at Oklahoma when they shot a season-low 36.2%.
Freshman Gradey Dick had 24 points for the Jayhawks, while Jalen Wilson had 23. Kevin McCullar Jr. had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double this season.
Love converted a three-point play for the Bears with 14:32 left to put them ahead to stay after Kansas took its only lead at 46-45 when Wilson swished a three-pointer from the left wing. Love's field goal and free throw started a 12-3 run that he capped with a three-pointer.
KJ Adams made two free throws with 6 seconds left in the first half to get the Jayhawks within 41-34, the closest they had been since about five minutes into the game.
After Wilson's layup got Kansas within 11-7, Baylor had a 9-0 run that was punctuated by Josh Ojianwuna's two-handed putback dunk. That was the last time in the half that the Bears had consecutive scores, though Cryer did make three 3s in an 83-second span -- the first two after threes by Dick and Wilson, and the third following two free throws by Dick.
The other times the Jayhawks lost three in a row under Self were in February 2005, February 2013 and January 2021.
The Bears got off to a fast start with a steal by Bridges that led to a fast-break layup by Cryer before Flo Thamba had a three-point play. Bridges then had another steal, this one in the backcourt, though Cryer missed an open three that would have made it 8-0 only a minute into the game.
Baylor is 25-8 against top 25 teams over the past four seasons, the nation's best mark.
Kansas goes to Rupp Arena to play Kentucky in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday. Baylor is home for its SEC/Big 12 Challenge game against Arkansas on Saturday. That is a rematch of the 2021 Elite Eight game the Bears won 81-72 on way to winning their national championship.
Baylor guard Keyonte George, front left, drives the ball against Kansas guard Joseph Yesufu, front right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas center Ernest Udeh Jr. (23) and Baylor guard Adam Flagler (10) get tied up while trying to retrieve the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas guard MJ Rice (11) scores over Baylor forward Caleb Lohner (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor guard Keyonte George, center left, has his shot blocked by Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr., center right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) drives the ball upcourt against Baylor guard Langston Love (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Baylor head coach Scott Drew points to an official after a call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)