KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Kansas Jayhawks lost their first-round NCAA Tournament game against the Arkansas Razorbacks 72-79. The last time the team suffered a first-round exit was 2006. Longtime KC Chiefs radio host and executive producer dies The J ayhawks kept it close for the entire game, even leading at times. However, poor efficiency and lack of composure in the second half, which was a reoccurring issue for the 2025 Jayhawks, ended their season. Kansas ended up shooting 43.9% from the field, better than the Razorbacks' 43.1%. They shot better from the three-point line and ended up with more offensive and defensive rebounds, too. So, how did they end up losing the game? Turnovers were a major issue for KU, they finished with 16 of them. Five of those turnovers came in the last three minutes and thirteen seconds of the game. KU, Mizzou fans in metro ready to watch teams play in NCAA Tournament KJ Adams leaving the game early with a reported achilles injury didn't help either. That led to all of KU's momentum being wiped out by said turnovers and Arkansas' ability to score off them. It's an end to a less-than-stellar season for KU, who were ranked No. 1 early in the season but dropped quickly due to those second-half issues that plagued them all year long. Now, the Jayhawks will have to look forward to the 2026 season and NCAA Tournament. ...read more read less