Whether it’s instinct woven into his DNA or a tiny alarm inside his body, Sherron Collins always knows when the Jayhawks need him.

More than any player in recent Kansas history, Collins senses when he needs to take the game over and then does it without hesitation.

Monday night it came with 5:36 left and Kansas clinging to a 60-55 advantage. Collins dribbled across halfcourt and searched for an outlet pass, but found none.

“They did a good job of denying, so I just kept counting off and stretched the floor,” Collins said. “I knew it was going to go to me. I had to get in the paint and draw a foul.”

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Kansas Basketball vs. Baylor

The Jayhawks eeked out another victory Monday night, beating the Baylor Bears 75-65 in Waco.

Like he did in a similar situation at Nebraska last Wednesday, Collins killed his opponent at the free throw line.

He drained the clock 40 feet from the basket, gently striding back and forth then pouncing on the defense like a tiger.

The junior bulled past his first defender and set up Baylor’s Henry Dugat with a pump fake. The whistle blew and Collins hit both free throws to push the lead to seven.

On the next possession, Collins passed to Brady Morningstar then ran a circle around the court before taking the ball back at the top of the key. Collins sensed that he was needed and wouldn’t let anyone else decide how the play would end.

“That’s just me,” Collins said. “Late in the game I want the ball in my hands. Rather than making a basket I just want to make the play.”

Collins drove to the basket and drew another foul.

Kansas coach Bill Self said the biggest difference in the second half was his team’s willingness to attack the rim with greater force. Freshman forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris, junior guard Mario Little and freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor all made a difference with impact drives, but it was Collins leading the charge.

“Those guys played great, everybody contributed,” Self said, “but Sherron was fabulous. That was one of his better games.”

Collins dropped his second pair of free throws to go up 64-55.

Both of those possessions and subsequent drives occurred while Taylor and sophomore center Cole Aldrich rode the bench with four fouls apiece. Taylor sat down with 5:36 to play, the exact time Collins’ instinct, tiny alarm or whatever kicked in and triggered another heroic performance.

Self also noted that Collins’ team-high 17 points didn’t come at the expense of his defense. Self said he talked to the Chicago native before Monday’s game about refocusing on his defensive play.

“He challenged me to cut their head off and Jerrells’ is the head of the team,” Collins said.

Curtis Jerrells entered the game as Baylor’s leading scorer at 16.8 points per game. Against Collins and the Jayhawks he missed all seven of his shots and scored just four points with late-game free throws.

With 1:43 to play Collins made his third pair of free throws. The sixth swish was Collins’ 35th consecutively made free throw. That breaks Wayne Simien’s 2005 school record for consecutive free throws.

Collins went to the line once more with 51 seconds to play and missed his first attempt.

“I thought I missed the record when I missed that last free throw,” Collins said.

His instinct held on just long enough.