BOULDER, CO – The Arizona Wildcats secured their first Big 12 championship on Saturday night, overcoming a double-digit first-half deficit to defeat the Colorado Buffaloes 89-79. The victory caps off a historic regular season for the No. 2 ranked Wildcats, who finished with a record of 29-2, the most wins in a regular season in program history. This achievement surpasses a mark previously reached four times, including during the 2021-22 season, Tommy Lloyd’s inaugural year as head coach according to the Oklahoman.
Arizona’s comeback was fueled by a stellar performance from its freshman duo, Brayden Burries and Koa Peat. Burries led all scorers with a career-high 31 points, 22 of which came in the second half, while Peat contributed 25 points, with 19 in the first half. The pair combined to shoot an impressive 21 of 31 from the field, and Burries was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, going 11-for-12. He also added seven rebounds, five steals, and an assist.
Despite a slow start that saw them trail by as many as 11 points late in the first half, the Wildcats showcased their resilience and offensive firepower. Arizona shot 70.4% in the second half and 55.9% dominating the paint with a 54-26 scoring advantage. They also finished with a plus-5 rebounding margin after being out-rebounded by four at halftime.
Freshman Duo Leads Wildcats to Victory
Burries’ performance was particularly crucial in turning the tide for Arizona. His 3-pointer tied the game at 44, and a subsequent basket by Ivan Kharchenkov gave the Wildcats their first lead of the night at 48-46 with 16:59 remaining. The game remained tightly contested for a stretch, with 10 lead changes over a four-minute period, before Arizona regained control.
Tobe Awaka, Ivan Kharchenkov, and Motiejus Krivas each added 10 points for Arizona, contributing to a balanced offensive attack. Jaden Bradley, despite being held scoreless for the first time this season, dished out six assists, showcasing his playmaking ability.
Colorado Falls Short Despite Johnson’s Record-Breaking Performance
Colorado (17-14) was led by Isaiah Johnson, who set a new school record for freshman season scoring with 28 points. However, the Buffaloes struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 7 of 22 from three-point range, and only hitting one triple in the second half. They shot 40.6% from the field overall.
The Buffaloes initially controlled the first half, building an eight-point lead with 8:08 remaining and extending it to 36-25 with 4:21 left, largely thanks to Johnson’s three 3-pointers. Arizona responded with a 9-0 run capped by a three-point play from Burries to close the gap before halftime.
Up Next: Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City
As the No. 1 seed in the 2026 Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Arizona receives a double bye into the quarterfinals on Thursday. They will face either No. 8 UCF, No. 9 Cincinnati, or No. 16 Utah. The Wildcats previously defeated these teams by margins of seven, 26, and 19 points, respectively, during the regular season.
The Wildcats will look to continue their impressive form as they head into the postseason, aiming for a deep run in both the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. Whether this Arizona team can finally break through and reach the Final Four – something the program hasn’t done since 2001 – remains to be seen, but their regular season performance has certainly positioned them as a strong contender.
What do you think? Can Arizona finally make a deep tournament run this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
