Arizona Wildcats Defeat Houston Cougars in Impressive Road Victory

Shorthanded Wildcats take down #2 Houston despite key injuries and illnesses

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Arizona Wildcats picked up a crucial road victory against the #2 Houston Cougars, winning 78-72 despite being without their second-leading scorer Koa Peat and having leading scorer Brayden Burries play through illness. The win was Arizona's 8th against a ranked opponent this season and their 11th Quad 1 victory, boosting their NCAA Tournament resume.

Why it matters

The victory over Houston keeps Arizona in the hunt for the Big 12 conference championship and significantly improves their seeding prospects for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. It also demonstrates the team's resilience and ability to win tough games on the road, even when facing significant injuries and illnesses.

The details

Arizona defeated Houston 78-72 despite being without Koa Peat, their second-leading scorer, and having Brayden Burries, their leading scorer, play through an illness and struggle to just 7 points on 1-5 shooting. Anthony Dell'Orso and Ivan Kharchenkov stepped up, scoring 22 and 16 points respectively, to lead the Wildcats to the impressive road win.

  • The game was played on February 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
  • Arizona had previously dropped games to Kansas and Texas Tech to end their undefeated start to the season.

The players

Koa Peat

Arizona's second-leading scorer at 13.8 points per game and a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Brayden Burries

Arizona's leading scorer who played through illness in the game, scoring just 7 points on 1-5 shooting.

Anthony Dell'Orso

Arizona player who stepped up with 22 points in the win over Houston.

Ivan Kharchenkov

Arizona player who contributed 16 points in the victory over the Cougars.

Tommy Lloyd

Arizona's head coach who discussed the lasting impact of the win over Houston.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think there's any doubt. There's a lot of ways that a game like this gives you a boost. Number one is just confidence and belief, and a will to find a way. It keeps you in the hunt for a conference championship, which is obviously important. I'm sure this win doesn't look bad on our resume when it comes down to seeding. By no means, does this win guarantee anything, but it probably doesn't help your prospects moving forward.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach

What’s next

The Wildcats will look to finish the regular season strong as they try to cap off one of the best seasons in program history with their first national title since 1997.

The takeaway

This impressive road victory over a top-ranked opponent, despite key injuries and illnesses, demonstrates the resilience and depth of the Arizona Wildcats. The win boosts their NCAA Tournament resume and keeps them in contention for the Big 12 conference championship, setting them up for a strong postseason push.