Kansas took a big step toward keeping its streak of Big 12 titles intact Wednesday night.

Kept a lot of other streaks going, too.

The third-ranked Jayhawks leaned on star freshman Josh Jackson, who responded with 23 points and 10 rebounds, and some stingy defense in the final minute to knock off No. 2 Baylor 73-68 and take a one game lead over the Bears at the midway point of the Big 12 race.

“It was big. It was for first place,” said junior guard Devonte Graham, who added 13 points. “We knew we had to come out and get that ‘W’ so we could remain in first. Now we have to take this game and that momentum and keep it rolling.”

The Jayhawks (20-2, 8-1) are aiming for their 13th consecutive Big 12 title, but there are still huge hurdles standing in their way. More immediately, the win was their 51st straight at Allen Fieldhouse and ninth in a row over the Bears (20-2, 7-2), who have never won in 15 tries at the Phog.

“We know it’s going to be hard,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “and if we hadn’t won tonight, we’re not out of the race. But it would be even more of an uphill climb.”

It was nip-and-tuck almost the entire way.

The game was tied 64-all with 2:23 left when Jackson went baseline for a dunk. And after Frank Mason III made a couple of foul shots moments later, the teams began trading baskets down the stretch in a matchup that lived up to its billing — and the lofty rankings of both teams.

Manu Lecomte’s fall-away jumper brought Baylor to 70- 68 with 51 seconds left, but Ish Wainwright missed a 3- pointer badly on the team’s next possession. Svi Mykhailiuk made one of two free throws with 18 ticks left for the Jayhawks, and then they buckled down for the biggest stop of the night.

Lecomte was hounded around the perimeter by Mason and Landen Lucas, and passed the ball off to Johnathan Motley, who likewise had nowhere to go with Jackson in his face. Motley’s pass landed out of bounds with 1.3 seconds left, and Mason made both free throws after getting fouled on the inbounds play.

Mason had 19 points and Mykhailiuk finished with 11 for the Jayhawks.