Arizona, BYU meet in top-25 hoops showdown

No. 4 Wildcats host No. 25 Cougars in key Big 12 matchup on ESPN

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:31am

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The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats will host the No. 25 BYU Cougars tonight in a top-25 Big 12 basketball matchup at McKale Center in Tucson. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET, with streaming options available through Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling and ESPN+.

Why it matters

This is a key conference game between two highly ranked teams looking to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes. Arizona is seeking to bounce back from consecutive losses, while BYU is riding a two-game winning streak.

The details

The Wildcats are 23-2 overall and 10-2 in Big 12 play, while the Cougars are 19-6 overall and 7-5 in conference. In their previous meeting this season, Arizona edged BYU 86-83. The Wildcats are led by Brayden Burries and Tobe Awaka, while the Cougars are paced by Robert Wright III.

  • The game tips off at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Arizona and BYU previously met earlier this season, with the Wildcats winning 86-83.

The players

Brayden Burries

A key player for the Arizona Wildcats who scored 16 points in their most recent loss.

Tobe Awaka

Another standout for the Wildcats, also scoring 16 points in their last game.

Robert Wright III

The leading scorer for the BYU Cougars, pouring in 39 points in their most recent victory.

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What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This top-25 matchup between Arizona and BYU features two talented teams looking to make a statement in the Big 12 and bolster their NCAA Tournament positioning.