No. 6 Iowa State Faces Off Against No. 2 Arizona

Cyclones and Wildcats meet in highly anticipated non-conference matchup

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones will travel to Tucson, Arizona to take on the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats in a highly anticipated non-conference basketball matchup. This will be the 10th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Arizona holding a 5-4 advantage in the series and a 3-1 record at home against Iowa State.

Why it matters

This game features two top-10 teams looking to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes with a marquee non-conference win. Both Iowa State and Arizona have had strong seasons so far and this matchup could have major implications for their seeding and potential paths in the Big Dance.

The details

The game will tip off at 8 p.m. CT on Monday, March 2, 2026 at the McKale Center at ALKEME Arena in Tucson. The contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, with Jon Sciambi on play-by-play and Fran Fraschilla providing analysis. Fans can also listen to the game on the Cyclone Radio Network, with John Walters and Eric Heft on the call.

  • The game will take place on Monday, March 2, 2026.
  • Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT.

The players

Iowa State Cyclones

The No. 6 ranked Iowa State Cyclones enter the game with a 24-5 overall record and an 11-5 mark in Big 12 Conference play.

Arizona Wildcats

The No. 2 ranked Arizona Wildcats have a 27-2 overall record and a 14-2 record in Pac-12 Conference play.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This highly anticipated non-conference matchup between two top-10 teams will provide a great early-season test for both Iowa State and Arizona as they look to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes.