A low scoring first half kept the game close, but the Kansas Jayhawks came alive in the second half to romp the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 38-21, Saturday on homecoming day in Lawrence, Kansas.

Kansas snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 5-4 overall, 3-3 in the Big 12. Oklahoma State fell to 1-8, 0-6 Big 12, and has now lost eight straight games, and 15 straight conference games.

“The Guys are excited,” said Kansas head coach Lance Leipold. “You know, they were excited during the game. For me, sometimes they’re almost too loose for me. I want to make sure I’m not relaxed until the game’s completely over. But it’s a group that’s proud, and I’m proud of them for sticking with it. Confidence can get dented at times, but they stuck together.”

Oklahoma State jumped out to an early lead and it looked like the Cowboys might be competitive in this game. OSU had the first possession of the game and drove 75 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Zane Flores to Shamar Rigby, with 10:40 left to play in the first.

Kansas responded with a 13-play scoring drive that ended with a 39-yard field goal by Laith Marjan, who set a new school record by scoring his 12th-consecutive field goal.

OSU’s second drive began late in the first quarter and carried over into the second quarter. The Cowboys marched down field in 14 plays, reaching the red zone, but the Jayhawks sacked Flores, forcing the Cowboys to attempt a 44-yard field goal, which Logan Ward sailed wide left.

Late in the second quarter, Kansas quarterback Daniel Hishaw Jr. scampered into the end zone from three yards out, to give Kansas a 10-7 lead with 3:23 left in the second quarter.

OSU again put together a quick drive deep into Jayhawk territory, but a field goal attempt by Ward was blocked on the final play of the half.

“The blocked field goal, I think it was huge,” Leipold said. “You know, they missed two field goal attempts. The block, I think, gave us a spark of, you know, obviously momentum and excitement and energy that we made the play, made the stop, and otherwise, you know, we hadn’t really slowed them down a lot. And those things, and with us getting the ball coming out (of halftime), that was important as well.”

The second half was a different story for Kanas as Daniels led the Jayhawks to four scoring drives.

In the third quarter, Flores connected with Gavin Freeman with a 10-yard touchdown that cut the KU lead to 24-14.

After Kansas took a 38-14 lead with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter, OSU scored one more time when Sesi Vailahi ran the ball in from the two-yard line.

“We talked about our leadership during the week, and I thought our leadership group did a great job,” Leipold said.      “I think our guys put the time and effort in that it took. To play a team that only had one win, I think we were well focused and found out, especially in the first half, that it was going to be a tough football game. For us to keep chipping away at it and find a way to pull away was really important.”

For OSU, Flores completed 22-of-28 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Feeman caught seven passes for 78 yards and one touchdown.

Daniels led the Jayhawks by completing 13-of-19 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

The Jayhawks are still playing for bowl eligibility. They need one victory in their next three games: at Arizona and Iowa State and against Utah.

Oklahoma State will be off this week before hosting Kansas State on Nov. 15.