Arizona Wildcats Defeat Iowa State Cyclones in Big 12 Tournament Semifinal

The No. 3 Wildcats advance to the Big 12 championship game after beating the No. 7 Cyclones for the second time this season.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:21pm

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The No. 3 Arizona Wildcats defeated the No. 7 Iowa State Cyclones 73-57 in the semifinals of the 2026 Big 12 tournament. This was the second meeting between the two teams this season, with Arizona also winning the previous matchup 73-57 on March 2. The Wildcats were led by Brayden Burries, who scored at least 21 points for the fourth time in the last five games. Arizona held Iowa State to just 29% shooting from the field and 23% from three-point range. The Cyclones were paced by Joshua Jefferson, who scored at least 18 points for the fourth time in six games. Arizona will now face the winner of Kansas vs. Houston in the Big 12 tournament championship game on Saturday.

Why it matters

This matchup featured two of the top teams in college basketball, with Arizona ranked No. 3 and Iowa State ranked No. 7 in the latest KenPom rankings. The winner of this game will advance to the Big 12 tournament championship, giving them a chance to claim the conference title and potentially earn a higher seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The details

Arizona was able to control the game with its balanced offensive attack, as six players scored eight or more points. The Wildcats' defense also stifled Iowa State, holding the Cyclones to just 29% shooting from the field and 23% from three-point range. This was a rematch of the teams' previous meeting on March 2, which Arizona also won by a 16-point margin.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
  • Arizona and Iowa State previously met on March 2, 2026, with the Wildcats winning 73-57.

The players

Brayden Burries

A key player for the Arizona Wildcats, Burries has scored at least 21 points in four of the last five games.

Joshua Jefferson

One of the top players for the Iowa State Cyclones, Jefferson has scored at least 18 points in four of his last six games.

Jaden Bradley

The Big 12 Player of the Year, Bradley plays for the Arizona Wildcats.

Tommy Lloyd

The head coach of the Arizona Wildcats.

Milan Momcilovic

One of the leading players for the Iowa State Cyclones.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been doing something right defensively to hold them to those shooting numbers. Our guys really locked in and executed the game plan.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats (draftkings.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Iowa State vs. Arizona game will face the winner of the Kansas vs. Houston matchup in the Big 12 tournament championship game on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The takeaway

This game showcased the strength of the Arizona Wildcats, who were able to defeat a top-10 opponent for the second time this season. The Wildcats' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense proved to be too much for the Iowa State Cyclones, who will now look to regroup before the upcoming NCAA Tournament.