Council's Late Scoring Helps No. 19 Kansas Beat Colorado

Tuesday, January 20

Boulder, Colo.

10:00 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

14-5,4-2Big 12

Colorado

12-7,2-4Big 12

Kansas

Colorado

Council's Late Scoring Helps No. 19 Kansas Beat Colorado

1/21/2026 12:51:00 AM | Men's Basketball

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BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- Melvin Council Jr. scored 10 of his 18 points over the final 5:07 and No. 19 Kansas held off Colorado 75-69 on Tuesday night with assistant coach Jacque Vaughn leading the Jayhawks.

The Jayhawks (14-5, 4-2 Big 12) led 60-59 with 5:50 to play, but clamped down on defense. They kept Colorado scoreless for a three-minute stretch to pull away. Council was the offensive catalyst, putting an exclamation point on the game with an emphatic dunk.

Kansas Coach Bill Self did not make the trip after going to the hospital on Monday because he was not feeling well. He was released after receiving IV fluids.

Vaughn, who was brought on board last May, paced the sideline as the acting coach. He earned the win for Self, who's now 22-1 in his career against Colorado (12-7, 2-4).

"It was a much needed win," Vaughn said. "At the end of the day, it was a collective effort. It wasn't the prettiest, but in the Big 12, if you get a road win and leave victorious, you take it."

Council had back-to-back layups that gave Kansas some separation after Colorado had a chance to take the lead. Tre White had 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for Kansas for his fifth double-double this season. Darryn Peterson finished with 16 points. He hobbled to the bench in the second half after appearing to turn his left ankle, but returned and hit a big 3-pointer late that he banked in off the backboard.

The Jayhawks were coming off a big week, beating then-No. 2 Iowa State and Baylor to move back into the rankings. Flory Bidunga added 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the win for the Jayhawks. Elmarko Jackson finished with five points and a pair of assists off the bench.

Isaiah Johnson led Colorado with 19, while Barrington Hargress added 17. Colorado has dropped three in a row.

Up next

Kansas: At Kansas State on Saturday.

Colorado: Hosts UCF on Saturday.