Darryn Peterson made his NCAA tournament debut count Friday night, scoring a game-high 28 points as Kansas survived a late push from Cal Baptist for a 68-60 victory.
Peterson provided the offensive spark for the Jayhawks throughout the night, pacing Kansas with the top scoring total in the game. However, his role diminished in the closing minutes as Kansas worked to protect its lead and finish the game.
Cal Baptist kept pressure on Kansas down the stretch, and the Jayhawks struggled at times to put the game away. Still, Kansas did enough defensively and at the free-throw line to avoid an upset bid and secure the eight-point win.
Debut impact
Peterson’s 28-point performance stood out as the defining individual effort of the game, giving Kansas a cushion it ultimately needed when the offense slowed late. While he wasn’t heavily involved in the final minutes, his scoring earlier helped Kansas build and maintain control.
Kansas advances after navigating a tense finish, with Peterson’s debut serving as the headline in a win that required composure to close.