- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Arizona Wildcats Advance to Sweet 16 After Gritty Win Over Utah State
No. 1 seed Arizona overcomes poor shooting to defeat No. 9 seed Utah State 78-66
Mar. 23, 2026 at 3:20am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The No. 1 seeded Arizona Wildcats have advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament after defeating the No. 9 seeded Utah State Aggies by a score of 78-66 in a gritty second-round matchup. Despite shooting struggles in the first half, the Wildcats were able to pull away in the second half behind the clutch play of Jaden Bradley and the dominant performance of veteran center Motiejus Krivas.
Why it matters
Arizona's ability to win a close game despite poor shooting early on demonstrates the team's resilience and toughness, which will be crucial as they continue their tournament run. Krivas' impact on both ends of the floor was a key factor in the victory and will be important going forward.
The details
The Aggies kept the game close in the first half, but a 7-0 run by Arizona gave them a 10-point lead at halftime. The Wildcats came out strong in the second half, going on a 10-2 run to pull away. While Utah State's precise shooting kept the game close, Arizona's grit and leadership from Jaden Bradley, who scored 12 of his team-high 18 points in the second half, ultimately propelled them to the win.
- Arizona led 33-24 at halftime.
- The Wildcats went on a 10-2 run to start the second half.
The players
Jaden Bradley
The Big 12 Player of the Year scored 12 of his team-high 18 points in the second half, showcasing his ability to make clutch plays in big moments for the Wildcats.
Motiejus Krivas
The veteran center was a dominant force, recording a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, including 9 on the offensive end. His 3 blocked shots were also crucial in the Wildcats' defensive effort.
What’s next
The Wildcats will face No. 4 seed Arkansas in the Sweet 16 in San Jose on Thursday.
The takeaway
Arizona's grit and resilience in close games, combined with the leadership of Jaden Bradley and the dominant play of Motiejus Krivas, were key factors in the Wildcats' victory over Utah State. As they advance to the Sweet 16, Arizona will need to continue to rely on these strengths to make a deeper push in the NCAA Tournament.
