Arizona Wildcats Capture First Big 12 Tournament Title

Tommy Lloyd's squad tops Houston Cougars 79-74 in championship game

Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:35am

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The Arizona Wildcats defeated the Houston Cougars 79-74 to win their first-ever Big 12 Tournament championship in Tommy Lloyd's head coaching tenure. Arizona led 44-36 at halftime and held off a late Cougars comeback attempt to secure the victory. The Wildcats' guards, led by Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley, were instrumental in the win, as Arizona proved it is built to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.

Why it matters

Arizona's Big 12 Tournament title is a significant accomplishment, as the Wildcats have now won both the regular season and tournament championships in their first year in the conference. This gives them tremendous momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament, where they will be a top seed and have a target on their back as one of the nation's elite teams.

The details

Arizona jumped out to a 44-36 halftime lead behind 13 points from Jaden Bradley and 12 from Brayden Burries. Houston made a late push to get within three points, but the Wildcats held on for the 79-74 victory to capture the Big 12 Tournament trophy. Arizona's guards have led the way throughout the team's tournament run, with Burries, Bradley, and Anthony Dell'Orso all taking turns as the offensive catalysts.

  • Arizona led 44-36 at halftime.
  • Houston got within three points late in the game, but Arizona held on for the 79-74 win.

The players

Tommy Lloyd

Arizona's head coach, who has now won the Big 12 Tournament title in his third season leading the Wildcats.

Jaden Bradley

Arizona's starting point guard, who scored 13 points in the first half to help the Wildcats build their lead.

Brayden Burries

Arizona's starting shooting guard, who scored 12 points in the first half and has been a key offensive contributor throughout the team's tournament run.

Anthony Dell'Orso

Arizona's starting small forward, who led the team in scoring with 26 points in the semifinal win over Iowa State.

Koa Peat

One of Arizona's top freshmen, who missed the tournament due to injury but has been a key player for the Wildcats all season.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Wildcats will now await their seeding and matchup for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where they will look to make a deep run as one of the top teams in the country.

The takeaway

Arizona's Big 12 Tournament championship is a testament to the team's depth, versatility, and ability to win against top competition. The Wildcats have proven they are built to make a run at the national title, and they will enter the NCAA Tournament as one of the favorites to cut down the nets.