No. 1 Arizona Advances to 22nd Sweet 16 Appearance

Wildcats hold off No. 9 Utah State 78-66 to reach West Regional semifinal

Mar. 23, 2026 at 10:33am

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Top-seeded Arizona used a balanced attack, led by Jaden Bradley's 18 points, to defeat No. 9 Utah State 78-66 in the NCAA Tournament second-round game at San Diego. The Wildcats overcame a cold shooting first half and nearly blowing an 18-point second-half lead to advance to their 22nd Sweet 16 appearance in program history.

Why it matters

Arizona's victory over Utah State marks the Wildcats' 10th straight second-round win, the longest streak in the nation. This continued success in the NCAA Tournament solidifies Arizona's status as one of the elite programs in college basketball and keeps them on track for a potential deep tournament run.

The details

Despite shooting just 29% from the field in the first half, Arizona led 33-24 at halftime thanks to an 11-2 advantage in free throw attempts. The Wildcats shot 52% in the second half and held off a late Utah State rally, with Jaden Bradley scoring 6 straight points to put Arizona up 66-59 with 4:07 remaining. Arizona outrebounded Utah State 54-26 but was outscored 28-22 in the paint.

  • Arizona led 33-24 at halftime.
  • Arizona increased its lead to 51-33 with 14:41 left in the second half.
  • Utah State cut Arizona's lead to 54-44 with 10:53 remaining.
  • Utah State continued to chip away, making it 58-54 Arizona with 6:34 left.
  • Jaden Bradley scored 6 straight points to put Arizona up 66-59 with 4:07 remaining.

The players

Jaden Bradley

The Big 12 Player of the Year and conference tournament MVP, Bradley led Arizona with 18 points, including 6 straight in the final minutes to help the Wildcats hold off Utah State.

Brayden Burries

The Arizona point guard contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds, helping to keep the Wildcats' offense afloat in the first half when they struggled shooting.

Motiejus Krivas

The Arizona center recorded a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, providing a dominant inside presence for the Wildcats.

Koa Peat

The freshman forward had 14 points and 10 rebounds, including 11 points in the first half to help Arizona build its lead.

Tommy Lloyd

The Arizona head coach has now led the Wildcats to four Sweet 16 appearances in his five seasons, continuing the program's tradition of postseason success.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it wasn't going to be easy. We're a gritty group. We always say, 'If we're not gritty …' What's the word that rhymes with 'gritty?'”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona

“Just trusted in my work. My teammates did a great job down the end. They kind of figured out what they're doing. That's a tough team to play against. Tough defense.”

— Jaden Bradley

What’s next

Arizona will face No. 4 Arkansas on Thursday night at San Jose in the Sweet 16. Tipoff is set for 6:45 p.m. Tucson time.

The takeaway

Arizona's ability to grind out a win over a tough Utah State team, despite shooting struggles in the first half, demonstrates the Wildcats' resilience and depth. Their balanced scoring attack and dominant rebounding performance will serve them well as they continue their quest for a deep NCAA Tournament run.