Arizona Routs Arkansas, Earns First Elite Eight Appearance Under Tommy Lloyd

Wildcats match program record with 35th win, advance to face Purdue in West Regional final

Mar. 27, 2026 at 11:35am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The top-seeded Arizona Wildcats routed the No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks 109-88 in the NCAA Tournament West Regional semifinal on Thursday night. The win was Arizona's first Sweet 16 victory since 2015 and puts the Wildcats in the Elite Eight for the first time under head coach Tommy Lloyd, who is in his fifth season. Six Arizona players scored in double figures, led by freshman Brayden Burries' 23 points. The Wildcats shot 63.8% from the field and outscored Arkansas 60-50 in the paint.

Why it matters

This game marks a historic milestone for the Arizona program, which had failed to advance past the Sweet 16 in its last four NCAA Tournament appearances dating back to 2017. The Wildcats are now one win away from their first Final Four berth in 25 years and can also break the single-season program record for wins in the process.

The details

Arizona jumped out to a 26-15 lead with 11:25 left in the first half and never looked back, maintaining a double-digit advantage for the rest of the game. The Wildcats shot an impressive 64.3% from the field in the first half and led 54-43 at the break. Arizona then opened the second half on a 9-2 run to take a commanding 78-57 lead with 13:19 remaining, as the Razorbacks' defense struggled to keep up with the Wildcats' offensive attack.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in San Jose, California.

The players

Koa Peat

A freshman forward for Arizona who scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

Brayden Burries

A freshman guard for Arizona who led the team with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

Darius Acuff Jr.

A player for Arkansas who led the Razorbacks with 28 points, though he shot just 8-of-19 from the field.

Tommy Lloyd

The head coach of the Arizona Wildcats, who is in his fifth season and has led the team to its first Elite Eight appearance.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm having the most fun in my life. Man, I love these guys. Super proud of everyone. We've got to keep going.”

— Koa Peat

What’s next

Arizona will face No. 2 Purdue in the West Regional final on Saturday, March 28, 2026 with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

The takeaway

This victory marks a significant milestone for the Arizona program under Tommy Lloyd, as the Wildcats have finally broken through to the Elite Eight for the first time in the coach's tenure. With a balanced scoring attack and dominant performance in the paint, Arizona has proven it has the talent and depth to make a deep NCAA Tournament run and potentially end its 25-year drought of reaching the Final Four.