Kansas tops BYU, UCF upsets No. 11 Texas Tech in Big 12 showdowns

UCF upsets No. 11 Texas Tech in Big 12 showdown

UCF upset No. 11 Texas Tech 88-80 in Orlando, marking the third time in program history the Knights have secured multiple AP Top 25 wins in the same season, after taking down Kansas earlier this year. It also marks the first time UCF has won three-straight Big 12 games since joining the conference in 2023. 

Texas Tech entered the matchup riding a five-game winning streak, but struggled to close late. The Red Raiders missed four three-pointers in the final moments, and Chris Johnson delivered a game-sealing dunk with 25.3 seconds left in regulation. 

‼️ | @Luhchriis https://t.co/q7M6yBv2bg pic.twitter.com/OwhNTJYR5l

— UCF Men’s Hoops 🌴 (@UCF_MBB) January 31, 2026

Chaos unfolded in the final second. With 0.2 seconds left, a late foul call led officials to put time back on the clock and clear the floor after fans stormed the court prematurely. Following two Texas Tech free throws, the buzzer finally sounded, allowing fans to pour back onto the court to celebrate for a second time.

UCF had to have 2 tries at the court storm 😭⛈️ pic.twitter.com/wx0UKmmwDs

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 31, 2026

The Knights were powered by Themus Fulks, who finished with a team-high 21 points and seven assists, while John Bol added a career-high 14 points.

This victory marked UCF’s third straight win against Texas Tech, and the Knights now turn their attention to a road test against No. 10 Houston on Wednesday, Feb. 4. 

No. 14 Kansas holds on at home against No. 13 BYU

No. 14 Kansas earned its third AP Top 25 win of the season with a 90-82 victory over No. 13 BYU at Allen Fieldhouse, moving the Jayhawks into a tie for third place in the conference standings. 

Kansas came out firing from the opening tip, opening up a commanding 53-33 lead at the break. The Jayhawks offense was clicking on all levels, knocking down 11 three-pointers. Potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Darryn Peterson led the early charge, pouring in 18 points in just 20 minutes of action. Forwards Will Thengvall and Bryson Tiller were equally impactful, combining for 42 points while accounting for six of Kansas’s 11 made threes. 

On the other side, much of the pregame attention centered around BYU star AJ Dybantsa. The other potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick finished with an efficient 17 points on 50% shooting, but Kansas’s defensive pressure prevented him from fully finding a rhythm in today’s game. 

It was senior Richie Saunders who sparked BYU’s late run in the game. Saunders delivered a career-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, leading a second-half surge that fell just short after outscoring the Jayhawks in the second half 49-37. 

Despite the late charge, Kansas was able to prevail at home, securing its fifth straight conference win. The Jayhawks will travel to Lubbock, Texas, for a tough road matchup against Texas Tech on Monday, Feb. 2.

DARRYN PETERSON. THAT’S THE TWEET. 🤯

(via @espn)pic.twitter.com/4osrTrIDgS

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 31, 2026

Kentucky goes on the road to upset No. 15 Arkansas 

John Calipari got the better of Mark Pope in their first meeting last February in Lexington, but coach Pope flipped the script Saturday, knocking off No. 15 Arkansas, 85-77, in Fayetteville. 

Kentucky, coming off a loss at Vanderbilt, delivered its strongest road performance of the season, handing the Razorbacks their first home loss since February 2025. The Wildcats built a double‑digit first‑half lead before the Razorbacks took the lead with a 10-2 run to start the second half.

The Wildcats survived the second‑half surge that included three technical fouls in 30 seconds. After regaining the lead with 9:31 remaining, Kentucky controlled the game by dominating the glass 35–26 and capitalizing at the free‑throw line in a foul‑heavy half.

Otega Oweh dropped a season-high 24 points to lead @KentuckyMBB to a big win in Fayetteville 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/g4dtAA3lwQ

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 1, 2026