Arizona Survives Furious BYU Comeback to Remain Unbeaten

Wildcats hold on for narrow 86-83 victory after blowing 19-point lead

Jan. 27, 2026 at 3:15pm

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The top-ranked Arizona Wildcats narrowly escaped Provo, Utah with an 86-83 win over the 13th-ranked BYU Cougars on Monday night. Arizona led by as many as 19 points but had to hold off a furious BYU comeback in the final minute to preserve their undefeated record and remain one of just three unbeaten teams in the country.

Why it matters

The near collapse against BYU exposed some potential vulnerabilities for the Wildcats, who will face several other ranked opponents in the coming weeks. Arizona's ability to withstand pressure and close out tight games will be crucial as they gear up for the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Arizona guards Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries combined for 55 points to lead the Wildcats. BYU stormed back with an 11-2 run in the final minute to cut Arizona's lead to just one point, but Burries came up with a key block and two free throws to seal the victory. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd acknowledged the Wildcats' struggles, saying 'BYU is a tough place to win, and we knew it was going to be a real challenge. They surmounted a hard charge at the end. Fortunate for us.'

  • The game took place on Monday, January 27, 2026.
  • With one minute remaining, Arizona led by 10 points.
  • In the final 40 seconds, BYU went on an 11-2 run to cut Arizona's lead to 1 point.

The players

Jaden Bradley

An Arizona Wildcats guard who scored a team-high 28 points in the game.

Brayden Burries

An Arizona Wildcats guard who scored 27 points and made a key block in the final seconds to preserve the win.

AJ Dybantsa

A BYU Cougars player who was touted as one of the nation's most talented freshmen.

Koa Peat

An Arizona Wildcats freshman who was expected to be a key player in the matchup against BYU.

Robert Wright III

A BYU Cougars player who had a potential game-winning layup blocked by Brayden Burries in the final seconds.

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What they’re saying

“BYU is a tough place to win, and we knew it was going to be a real challenge. They surmounted a hard charge at the end. Fortunate for us.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Wildcats Head Coach

“It's a big-time finish for us. We've been talking a lot about that from going back to this summer that there's going to be some games that come down to getting one stop and then we haven't been in a lot of them. So it was great to experience that and have it come out our way.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Wildcats Head Coach

What’s next

The Wildcats will face several other ranked opponents in their next nine games, including the #14 Kansas Jayhawks and #10 Houston Cougars, which could further test their ability to withstand pressure and close out tight games.

The takeaway

While Arizona survived the scare in Provo, the near collapse against BYU exposed some potential vulnerabilities for the Wildcats ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Their ability to maintain composure and finish games under pressure will be crucial as they face a gauntlet of ranked opponents in the coming weeks.