Gritty Jayhawks back in position to win Big 12 after 108-96 OT win over Iowa State

Kansas guard Elijah Johnson tries to knock the ball away from Iowa State forward Anthony Booker (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Johnson scored 39 points and Kansas won the game 108-96 in overtime. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth) (The Associated Press)

Kansas head coach Bill Self, left, pats guard Elijah Johnson (15) on the face after Johnson scored 39 points in their 108-96 overtime win against Iowa State in an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in Ames, Iowa. Self earned his 500th career victory with the win. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth) (The Associated Press)

AMES, Iowa – Nobody was thinking about coach Bill Self's 500th win or the Big 12 title when a loss to Oklahoma State kicked off a rare three-game slide for Kansas.

The Jayhawks have responded with five straight victories, including Self's milestone win on Monday night.

Now the conference crown that seemed out of reach is Kansas' to lose.

Elijah Johnson scored a career-high 39 points — including eight in the final 29 seconds of regulation and 12 in overtime — and No. 6 Kansas rallied to beat Iowa State 108-96.

Travis Releford added 19 points for the Jayhawks (24-4, 12-3 Big 12), who snapped Iowa State's 22-game home winning streak and kept pace with No. 13 Kansas State — which has already lost twice to Kansas — atop the Big 12.