No. 2 Arizona seeks clinching win against No. 4 Iowa State

Arizona can clinch the Big 12 regular-season title and No. 1 seed with a victory over the Cyclones on Monday.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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No. 2 Arizona (27-2, 14-2 Big 12) will face No. 4 Iowa State (24-5, 11-5) in a showdown on Monday at Tucson, Arizona. Arizona can clinch an outright Big 12 regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with a win. Texas Tech is still in contention to share the regular-season title if Arizona loses its last two games. Iowa State is coming off an 82-73 home loss to Texas Tech, its first defeat at home this season.

Why it matters

This game has major implications for the Big 12 regular-season title and conference tournament seeding. Arizona has one of the most prolific offenses in the league, while Iowa State is known for its stifling defense and ability to force turnovers. The outcome could determine the top seed in the Big 12 tournament.

The details

Arizona is led by senior guard Jaden Bradley, who averages 13.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. He'll be matched up against Iowa State's Tamin Lipsey, who averages 13 points, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals. Arizona's frontcourt duo of Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas combine to help the Wildcats lead the Big 12 in rebounding margin. Iowa State's top rebounder is Joshua Jefferson at 7.4 per game. A key matchup will be Iowa State's Milan Momcilovic, who has made 109 3-pointers this season, against Arizona's Ivan Kharchenkov on the perimeter.

  • The game will take place on Monday, March 2, 2026.

The players

Jaden Bradley

A senior guard for Arizona who averages 13.8 points and 4.6 assists per game.

Tamin Lipsey

Iowa State's starting guard who averages 13 points, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

Tobe Awaka

An Arizona forward who averages 9.4 rebounds per game and helps the Wildcats lead the Big 12 in rebounding margin.

Motiejus Krivas

An Arizona post player who averages 8.4 rebounds per game and combines with Awaka to give the Wildcats a strong frontcourt.

Joshua Jefferson

Iowa State's leading rebounder, averaging 7.4 boards per game.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, we wanted to go undefeated at home, so that stings a little bit. But at the same time, we've got Arizona and we've got another home game to finish off (the regular season), so at this point there's no point in sulking.”

— Tamin Lipsey, Guard (statenews.net)

“I've got to do a better job as a coach in terms of demanding rebounding effort, two-handed rebounds, finishing on the glass, finishing plays by any means necessary. Ultimately, we'll get back to work, and that's something that we understand -- that when we've been successful, we win the rebounding battle. When we've lost, we haven't.”

— T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State Head Coach (statenews.net)

“We already started on the scout (of Iowa State). We started on the scout and it looks like they had a tough one at home against Texas Tech. I'm sure they're gonna come in here hungry. They're a unique team to play against at both ends of the floor. So, we're gonna have to dig deep and have a plan and see if we can come out and execute it on Monday night. Obviously, it's gonna be another great atmosphere, and it's gonna be Senior Night.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Head Coach (statenews.net)

What’s next

The winner of this game will clinch the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 tournament. Texas Tech is still in contention to share the regular-season title if Arizona loses its final two games.

The takeaway

This matchup between the No. 2 and No. 4 teams in the country will have major implications for the Big 12 regular-season title and conference tournament seeding. Arizona's high-powered offense will be tested against Iowa State's stifling defense, making for an intriguing clash of styles with a lot on the line.