No. 2 Arizona Stampedes Through Colorado to End Regular Season

Wildcats secure Big 12 title with 89-79 victory over Buffaloes

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The No. 2 Arizona Wildcats concluded their regular season with a 6-2 conference record and a Big 12 title after defeating the Colorado Buffaloes 89-79 in a close game at the CU Events Center. Arizona's freshmen stars Koa Peat and Brayden Burries led the way, with Peat scoring 19 points in the first half and Burries adding a team/career-high 31 points in the second half.

Why it matters

The win gives Arizona momentum heading into the Big 12 tournament, as they look to secure a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Colorado put up a strong fight, forcing 9 turnovers and grabbing 8 steals, but Arizona's efficient shooting and ball movement proved to be the difference.

The details

Arizona shot 56% from the field and had 22 assists on the night. Burries led all scorers with 31 points and 6 assists, while Peat added 25 points and 4 assists. Ivan Kharchenkov, Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka each chipped in 10 points. Colorado outrebounded Arizona 32-37 and was perfect from the free-throw line, but couldn't overcome Arizona's offensive firepower.

  • The game was played on March 7, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado.

The players

Koa Peat

A freshman forward for the Arizona Wildcats who scored 19 points in the first half to lead the team.

Brayden Burries

A freshman guard for the Arizona Wildcats who scored a team/career-high 31 points in the second half to power the Wildcats to victory.

Ivan Kharchenkov

A player for the Arizona Wildcats who scored 10 points in the game.

Motiejus Krivas

A player for the Arizona Wildcats who scored 10 points in the game.

Tobe Awaka

A player for the Arizona Wildcats who scored 10 points in the game.

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What’s next

The Wildcats will now turn their attention to the Big 12 tournament, where they will look to secure a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Arizona's balanced scoring attack and ability to make timely runs proved to be the difference in this close contest. The Wildcats' freshmen stars Peat and Burries showed why they are considered two of the top young talents in the country, and their performances bode well for Arizona's postseason aspirations.