Freshman guard Christian Braun responded to the first start of his career Monday night by contributing 16 points and nine rebounds as No. 3 Kansas beat host Oklahoma State 65-50 in a Big 12 Conference game.

Braun made four 3-pointers in eight attempts.

The win was the fifth straight for the Jayhawks (17-3, 6-1 Big 12), who overcame suspensions that again sidelined two scholarship forwards, starter David McCormack and reserve Silvio De Sousa.

Udoka Azubuike was the lone post player for the Jayhawks, though he encountered first-half foul trouble and did not score against the Cowboys' sagging zone until 14:06 remained. Azubuike finished with six points, seven rebounds and five blocks.

Although a 17-point lead dwindled to one in the first half, Kansas never trailed. It used a 13-0 run early in the second half to regain command. The Jayhawks went 5-for-5 during that spurt to create a 45-28 bulge as the Cowboys went 6:52 without a field goal while missing 10 shots in a row.

Marcus Garrett provided seven points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Kansas. Isaiah Moss came off the bench to add 13 points, and Devon Dotson scored 11.

Oklahoma State (10-10, 0-7) remained winless in Big 12 play despite coming off a victory Saturday at Texas A&M as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Cameron McGriff scored 18 points to lead the Cowboys, who shot just 28.1 percent from the floor, and Isaac Likekele had 10 points.

Kansas roared to a 24-7 lead as Oklahoma State started 3-for-20 from the field and missed its first six 3-point attempts.

However, Azubuike and Dotson, the Big 12's top scorer, each acquired two first-half fouls and sat for extended stretches while the Cowboys capitalized on the Jayhawks' lack of depth.

Oklahoma State held Kansas without a field goal for almost seven minutes and enjoyed a 15-0 spurt before cutting the deficit to one.

The Jayhawks scored the last four points of the half, taking a 29-24 lead into the break behind eight points from Braun. McGriff scored nine to lead the cold-starting Cowboys, who made 5 of their last 10 shots before halftime.

--Field Level Media