Utah State and Arizona battle for Sweet 16 berth in March Madness 2026

No. 9 Utah State looks to pull off another upset against top-seeded Arizona in the West Region second round

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:05pm

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After advancing through the first round, Utah State faces Arizona on Sunday in the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. No. 1 Arizona comes off a dominant 92-58 rout of Long Island, while No. 9 Utah State pulled off an 86-76 upset of Villanova. This West Region second-round matchup pits Arizona's elite offense and top-seed pedigree against Utah State's scrappy, momentum-driven play, with defensive stops, rebounding, and late-game composure likely determining the winner.

Why it matters

The winner of this game will advance to the Sweet 16, keeping their national title hopes alive in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Both teams have shown the ability to win under pressure, setting up an intriguing clash of styles that could come down to the final minutes.

The details

Arizona dominated Long Island from start to finish, shooting efficiently and controlling the interior. Utah State, meanwhile, relied on balanced scoring and clutch late-game execution to upset Villanova. This matchup will likely come down to which team can get the necessary defensive stops, control the boards, and maintain their composure in crunch time.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 7:50 PM ET.

The players

Brayden Burries

A guard for the Arizona Wildcats.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against Utah State. They've proven they can win under pressure, and we'll need to match their intensity and execution to advance.”

— Brayden Burries, Arizona Wildcats guard

What’s next

The winner of this game will advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, keeping their national title hopes alive.

The takeaway

This second-round matchup in the West Region promises to be a thrilling clash of styles, with Arizona's elite offense and top-seed pedigree going up against Utah State's scrappy, momentum-driven play. Whichever team can best execute on the defensive end, control the boards, and maintain their composure in the closing minutes is likely to emerge victorious and advance to the Sweet 16.