A look at Jalen Wilson’s 38-point game and other top performances in KU history

KJ Adams fouled out with 1:43 left and his Kansas Jayhawks leading by one point in an 83-82 overtime loss to Kansas State on Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.

From the bench, sophomore power forward Adams watched closely and cheered loudly as his teammate, junior forward Jalen Wilson, hit two free throws with 0:57 left for what turned out to be the final points of regulation. Adams continued to marvel at the play of Wilson during a five-minute OT in which the 6-foot-8, 225-pound Denton, Texas, native scored eight of KU’s 10 points.

At game’s end, Wilson, who played all 45 minutes, had registered a career-high 38 points on 12-of-25 shooting (3-of-10 from three, 11-of-12 from the line) with nine rebounds, two blocked shots, an assist and three turnovers.

“Jalen has always been a leader with us,” Adams said on the postgame radio show after scoring 17 points with four assists and two rebounds in 34 minutes. “Now he has a big scoring role. He took it upon himself to help us win. It (stinks) we didn’t get the win. I’m really proud of how he played. Even though we lost, I’m just proud he got a good mark. It (stinks) we lost with it.”

Wilson’s performance was reminiscent of Ochai Agbaji’s 37-point outing in a 94-91 double-overtime victory over Texas Tech at Allen Fieldhouse during last year’s national championship season.

Wilson’s 38 points, in fact, were the third-most points put up by any KU player in any game — home, away or neutral site — in the 20-year Bill Self era.

Andrew Wiggins scored 41 points in KU’s 92-86 loss to West Virginia on March 8, 2014, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Elijah Johnson had 39 points in KU’s 108-96 overtime win at Iowa State on Feb. 25, 2013, in Ames, Iowa. It was the most points by a KU player versus KSU since Ben McLemore went for 30 points on Feb. 11, 2013.

Looking at the KU history books … it’s believed Wilson’s 38 points tied for a top-25 scoring performance in KU history.

Wilt Chamberlain scored a school-record 52 points against Northwestern on Dec. 3, 1956, at Allen Fieldhouse. Chamberlain also scored 46 against Nebraska on Feb. 8, 1958, 40 versus Colorado on March 9, 1957, and 39 against Marquette on Dec. 8, 1956, all in Allen.

Bud Stallworth scored 50 points against Missouri on Feb. 26, 1972, in the fieldhouse. Danny Manning scored 40 points against Notre Dame on Feb. 7, 1987, and 39 versus Iowa State on Feb. 13, 1988, both in Allen.

Walt Wesley scored 42 points against Loyola Chicago on Dec. 12, 1964, and 39 against Iowa State on Jan. 8, 1966. Terry Brown hit a school-record 11 threes en route to his 42 points versus North Carolina State in 1991, also in Allen.

Some other notable scoring games by KU players: 46 points by John Douglas against Iowa State on Feb. 16, 1977, in Ames; 44 points by B.H. Born against Colorado on March 2, 1953, in KU’s Hoch Auditorium; 44 points by Clyde Lovellette versus Saint Louis on March 22, 1952, in the NCAA Tournament in Kansas City as well as 42 points at SMU on Dec. 14, 1951; 39 points by Ron Kellogg against Nebraska on Feb. 2, 1985, in Lincoln; and 39 by Dave Robisch against Iowa State on Jan. 26, 1970, in Ames.

Chamberlain, by the way, also had a 45-point game against Colorado on Dec. 9, 1956, in Kansas City. He scored 41 versus Oklahoma on Dec. 26, 1957, and 38 versus Kansas State on Dec. 30, 1957, both those games also in Kansas City.

“(I’m) just trying to do what I can do to win,” Wilson said after Tuesday’s grueling OT contest, which featured 25 fouls by K-State and 24 by Kansas (KU went 24-of-34 from the line to KSU’s 26-of-33).

“It’s always been important to me to win games on the road, especially when playing K-State,” Wilson added.

Asked about his two free throws with 1:18 left in overtime that gave KU an 82-80 lead (his three-pointer with 2:24 left in OT erased a 78-77 deficit), Wilson said: “I want to do whatever it takes to win. I am very comfortable in those situations (in making 11 of 12 from line). It’s my job being a leader to be in control, in those moments, no matter how loud or how big a moment may be, to play my game.

“I knew it was going to be a tough game. A game like this means a lot to a lot of people, especially playing a team like K-State and how they are doing this year,” Wilson added.

Wilson, who along with Kevin McCullar guarded K-State standout forward Keyontae Johnson (24 points, eight rebounds), credited K-State for playing an outstanding game in Bramlage. The No. 13-ranked Wildcats and No. 2 Jayhawks now have identical 16-2 records, including 5-1 marks in conference play.

“It was a tough game,” Wilson said, “It’s always going to be a good environment playing K-State. Hat’s off to them for their performance. They were able to play well today (with) a lot of key shots and stops.”

Wilson acknowledged it was different playing at the end without starters Adams, McCullar and Gradey Dick. McCullar fouled out with 5:47 left in regulation and the score tied at 61. Dick fouled out with 1:31 left in OT and KU up 80-78.

“(Having) three guys foul out was very unfortunate,” Wilson said. “We’re obviously not used to playing without three starters on the team on the court. It’s basketball at the end of the day. You’ve got to find a way to adjust, find a way to win. Basketball is so unpredictable. The Big 12 is so good, expect anything. It’s kind of what it was tonight. We’ll learn from it and move on.”

Wilson’s individual performance in a game in a hostile environment could be noticed by those who vote for All-America honors.

“Jalen obviously carried us,” KU coach Self said. “He was really good offensively. Jalen played great. Gosh, the kid plays 45 minutes and never comes out and puts us on his back. Scores 38, has to drive it every time to get fouled.”

Self added that, aside from Wilson, “We didn’t have anything (offensively). We didn’t have much at all. When KJ fouled out and was out of the game we didn’t really have a way to play through the pick and roll, the short roll, which we were so good at the first half.”

KU will next meet TCU at 12 p.m., Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. It will be shown on CBS.

35-POINT GAMES BY KU MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS

As compiled by KU

Player Date Opponent Points

Wilt Chamberlain 12/3/56 Northwestern 52

Bud Stallworth 02/26/72 Missouri 50

John Douglas 02/16/77 @ Iowa State 46

Wilt Chamberlain 2/8/58 Nebraska 46

Wilt Chamberlain 12/9/56 vs. Colorado 45

B.H. Born 03/2/53 Colorado 44

Clyde Lovellette 03/22/52 vs. Saint Louis 44

Terry Brown 01/5/91 NC State 42

Danny Manning 03/15/87 Missouri State 42

Walter Wesley 12/12/64 Loyola (Chicago) 42

Clyde Lovellette 12/14/51 @ SMU 42

Andrew Wiggins 03/08/14 @ West Virginia 41

Wilt Chamberlain 12/26/57 vs. Oklahoma 41

Danny Manning 02/8/87 Notre Dame 40

Wilt Chamberlain 3/9/57 Colorado 40

Wilt Chamberlain 12/9/57 vs. Marquette 40

Elijah Johnson 02/25/13 @ Iowa State 39

Danny Manning 02/13/88 Iowa State 39

Ron Kellogg 02/2/85 @ Nebraska 39

Dave Robisch 01/26/70 @ Iowa State 39

Walt Wesley 01/08/66 vs. Iowa State 39

Wilt Chamberlain 12/8/56 Marquette 39

Jalen Wilson 01/17/23 Kansas State 38

Danny Manning 03/25/88 vs. Vanderbilt 38

Dave Robisch 01/31/70 @ Colorado 38

Wilt Chamberlain 12/30/57 vs. Kansas State 38

Ochai Agbaji 01/24/22 Texas Tech 37

Danny Manning 02/27/88 @ Missouri 37

Wilt Chamberlain 12/20/57 Washington 37

Wilt Chamberlain 12/15/56 @ Washington 37

Ben McLemore 03/02/13 West Virginia 36

Tony Guy 03/15/81 vs. Arizona State 36

Dave Robisch 12/1/69 Marshall 36

Wayne Hightower 02/13/61 Missouri 36

Wilt Chamberlain 3/15/57 @ SMU 36

Wilt Chamberlain 2/12/57 Oklahoma State 36

Wilt Chamberlain 12/28/56 vs. Oklahoma 36

Devonte’ Graham 12/02/17 vs. Syracuse 35

Devonte’ Graham 11/28/17 Toledo 35

Danny Manning 03/2/85 Oklahoma State 35

Wilt Chamberlain 01/18/58 @ Missouri 35