LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Last weekend’s loss to Ohio was eerily familiar to Kansas fans beaten down by years of ineptitude, but it also overshadowed something not so familiar: signs of progress.

Yes, even in a 37-21 defeat.

The Jayhawks did just about everything wrong in falling into a 25-0 first-half hole, muffing a pair of punts, getting stopped for a safety and struggling to pick up first downs. But players also believe the score could have been worse than it was had the Jayhawks not showed a little fight, with credit for the attitude change going to coach David Beaty’s system.

LaQuvionte Gonzalez returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to give them some energy, but it was the way they came out of halftime that nearly turned the game. Montell Cozart hit Steven Sims Jr. with a 74-yard touchdown pass, then found him again on a 22-yard strike to get within 31-21 in the third quarter.

Kansas (1-1) is preparing for a road game at Memphis (1-0) on Saturday.