After Kansas' 71-66 victory against the Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas coach Bill Self staggered out of the locker room.

"We just keep dodging bullets don't we?" Self said with a slight grin on his face.

Despite being in control for most of the game, the Jayhawks surrendered a nine-point second half lead, turning a competitive conference game into a nitty-gritty brawl.

Mix a two-point Jayhawks deficit with a dash of senior leadership and you have the recipe for an energized Kansas basketball team.

Throw in the return of preseason All-American forward Wayne Simien, and the Jayhawks' game really elevates.

Rylan Howe

Bill Self scratches his head on the way to the locker room after the first half. Kansas defeated Iowa State despite 10 first-half turnovers.

It seems to take an opponents' rally these days for Kansas to play inspired basketball.

"We had opportunities to extend the lead," Self said. "But when we got behind, that is when we played our best basketball."

Kansas' best showing of the night came after a 10-0 run by the Cyclones that put the Jayhawks down 54-52 with 7:46 left in the game -- their first deficit since trailing 2-4 early in the game.

After that, the Jayhawks showed the guts, savvy and senior leadership they displayed in last Sunday's victory against No. 8 Kentucky.

The Jayhawks rattled off eight straight points, all from their seniors.

Rylan Howe

Keith Langford, senior guard, goes airborne past Damion Staple, Iowa State senior forward. Langford led the Jayhawks with 18 points during the 71-66 victory against the Cyclones Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.

Guard Keith Langford hit a crucial 17-foot jumper to even the score, and Simien and guard Mike Lee each added a basket. Langford topped off the run with a put-back off of a missed Simien jump shot.

"That's what senior leaders are supposed to do," Miles said. "Step up in a hostile environment in tough game."

The Jayhawks have played their finest basketball during pressure situations. Five of the Jayhawks' last six victories have come by six points or less.

It took a huge shot by Langford to seal the New Year's Day overtime victory against Georgia Tech. The Jayhawks trailed by as many as 16 in that game.

Rylan Howe

J.R. Giddens and C.J. Giles get pumped up during the second half.

On Wednesday, with a conference game on the line, Kansas did it again.

After the eight-point run that put them on top 60-54, Kansas held off an Iowa State team who fed off the energy of a home crowd and the opportunity to defeat the number two team in both major polls.

Iowa State pulled back within three, lighting up an already rowdy crowd. But Langford silenced it quickly by driving to the basket in transition and drawing the foul.

The return of Simien, who finished the game with 13 points and nine rebounds, came at a critical time for the Jayhawks, who played without starting forward Christian Moody, who sprained his ankle against Kentucky on Sunday and did not practice on Tuesday.

Rylan Howe

Aaron Miles, senior guard, drives past Curtis Stinson, Iowa State sophomore guard. Miles contributed eight points and five assists to the Jayhawks' victory against Iowa State Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.

Simien was cleared to play before Wednesday's game, making his return a game time decision.

"We decided that he would play and if you are going to play Wayne, you might as well start him," Self said.

Simien played with a splint on his injured left thumb. It didn't impact him too much, he said.

"I couldn't get my hands on some boards or passes that I normally would, but other than that, I felt great," Simien said.

It appeared that the Jayhawks had gotten used to playing without Simien because he did not get a lot of touches in the first half. He had only four points going into the locker room.

Rylan Howe

Aaron Miles and Darnell Jackson smother Will Blalock, Iowa State sophomore guard.

"At halftime, coach really emphasized that Wayne was back and that he was the first option," freshman forward Alex Galindo said.

Hot shooting by sophomore guard J.R. Giddens, who had missed his previous 12 three-point attempts, got the Jayhawks off to a hot start. He made three shots from behind the arc in the first half.

Kansas led by as many as seven in the first half, and went into the locker room ahead by three.

Kansas' second half performance added to this team's growing trend of playing best when the game is on the line.

Rylan Howe

Jeff Hawkins, junior guard, steals the ball during the final seconds of the game to secure a KU victory. The Jayhawks defeated the Cyclones 71-66.

If the Jayhawks continue this trend, it will be a long season for Self on the sideline.

"We definitely dodged this one tonight," Self said. "But I have confidence in these guys to go out there and get the job done."