Another One Bites The Dust: Ku Loses

Top 25

Kansas just isn’t meant to play games the same day it’s voted the No. 1 team in men’s college basketball.

Last season, the Jayhawks lost to Kansas State hours after moving up to the top spot. It happened again Monday night, when No. 25 Oklahoma beat them 76-73 in Norman, Okla., assuring another likely change in the No. 1 spot next week.

“That was a great example of hanging in there, playing with great heart, of stick-to-it-iveness,” Sooners coach Kelvin Sampson said.

Oklahoma (7-4 Big Eight, 20-6) fought back after Kansas (9-3, 20-4) had rallied to take a six-point lead with 8:45 to play.

Ernie Abercrombie, just 3 of 9 from 3-point range this season, hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to give the Sooners a 74-73 lead with 45 seconds left.

Then Kansas, which killed itself by missing the front of three 1-and-1s in the final 2:41, turned the ball over when Scot Pollard couldn’t handle a pass inside.

Ryan Minor, who scored 28 points, then made two free throws with 12 seconds remaining to widen the lead to three. Kansas got a 3-point try by Jerod Haase from the top of the key, but it bounced off the rim.

Georgetown 77, (9) Villanova 52

With President Clinton in attendance, freshman Allen Iverson scored 26 points to lead the Hoyas (9-6 Big East, 16-7) past the Wildcats (12-3, 19-6), ending Villanova’s 11-game winning streak.

Jerome Williams added 14 points for Georgetown, which jumped to an 11-0 lead. Othella Harrington had 12.