Wildcats Outlast Spirited Cougars in Big 12 Title Game

Arizona holds on for 79-74 victory over Houston in rematch of last year's championship

Mar. 15, 2026 at 6:55am

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The second-ranked Arizona Wildcats proved their resilience, holding off a late surge from the fifth-ranked Houston Cougars to win the Big 12 Tournament title game 79-74. Brayden Burries led the Wildcats with 21 points, including a pair of clinching free throws in the final seconds, while Koa Peat and Jaden Bradley also had strong performances for Arizona.

Why it matters

The win demonstrates the Wildcats' ability to win close games against top competition, which should serve them well as they head into the NCAA Tournament. The game was a rematch of last year's Big 12 title game, won by Houston, and the Wildcats' victory shows they have closed the gap on the Cougars, who have been one of the top programs in the conference.

The details

Arizona led 75-66 with just over a minute left, but Houston made a late push with three-pointers from Mercy Miller and Milos Uzan to cut the deficit to three. However, the Wildcats were able to hold on, with Motiejus Krivas making two free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory. The game featured strong performances from several Arizona players, including Burries, Peat, and Bradley, who had hit the game-winner in the semifinals against Iowa State.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Jaden Bradley

An Arizona guard who had his left wrist taped after a collision left him in pain, but still finished with 13 points.

Koa Peat

An Arizona player who was mired in foul trouble during the game.

Brayden Burries

An Arizona guard who broke out of a slump with 21 points, including a pair of clinching free throws in the final seconds.

Tommy Lloyd

The Big 12 Coach of the Year, who praised his Wildcats' resilience and unbreakable spirit.

Kelvin Sampson

The Houston Cougars' head coach, who said the game came down to a "break, a whistle, or a bounce" between the two evenly matched teams.

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What they’re saying

“They're just resilient, you know? And they just have this unbreakable spirit. These guys do an amazing job of figuring it out in tough moments.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Big 12 Coach of the Year

“You had the two best teams in the Big 12 fighting down the stretch. Either team could have won the game. Sometimes it comes down to a break. Sometimes it comes down to a whistle. Sometimes it comes down to a bounce. When two teams are evenly matched like they were today, that's what it comes down to.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars Head Coach

What’s next

The Wildcats will now turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament, where they will look to build on their impressive season and make a deep run.

The takeaway

Arizona's ability to win a close, hard-fought game against a top conference rival like Houston demonstrates the Wildcats' resilience and toughness, which should serve them well as they aim to make a championship run in the NCAA Tournament.