Owens was right.  KU struggled, committing eight turnovers in the first eight minutes of the game.  The Jayhawks still trailed by five points with 48 seconds left in the game when things got really interesting.  KU’s Rick Suttle was fouled and made the first free throw, but he missed the second intentionally.  Sophomore Norm Cook rebounded and scored, cutting the lead to 67-65.  On the inbounds play, the Jayhawks fouled Nebraska’s Jerry Fort.  He missed the free throw, and Suttle scored for KU with 13 seconds to go, sending the game to its first overtime.  Ku won in the second overtime. 79-77.

Suttle finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds, and KU moved to 10-3, clinching at least a share of the Big Eight title because Kansas State has lost at Missouri the same night.  With a win against Oklahoma three days later, KU clinched its second-straight Big Eight title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Jayhawks were sent to Tulsa to meet Notre Dame and All-American Adrian Dantley in the first round.  The story of the game was at the free-throw line.  KU collected 39 fouls to Notre Dame’s 19, and the Irish made 35 of 50 from the line, accounting for nearly half of their points in their 77-71 win.  Five KU players fouled out: Donnie Von Moore, Norm Cook, Clint Johnson, Dale Greenlee and Milt Gibson.  Dantley led all scorers with 33 points, 15 of them coming at the line.

Source:  The Crimson & Blue Handbook, page 75.