Wildcats Clinch Big 12 Title
Arizona Wildcats clinched the Big 12 regular-season basketball title with a decisive win over Iowa State Cyclones. The victory caps a dominant season and positions Arizona as favorites heading into tournament play. This marks a significant milestone for the Wildcats' storied basketball program.
The title-clinching 73-57 victory for the No. 2 ranked Wildcats came at home in the McKale Center on senior night. The win improved their impressive overall record to 28-2 and their Big 12 conference record to 15-2. This marks the program's first Big 12 regular-season championship in just their second season in the conference. Senior Jaden Bradley led the charge for Arizona, scoring a team-high 17 points. Center Motiejus Krivas added 13 points, contributing to a balanced offensive effort. The Wildcats' defense was a key factor, holding the No. 6 ranked Iowa State to a season-low 29.2% shooting from the field. This championship is the third regular-season conference title in five years under head coach Tommy Lloyd. The win also marked Lloyd's 140th victory, the most for any NCAA coach in their first five seasons. The Wildcats' dominance was evident throughout the game, as they led for nearly 35 minutes. A critical 15-3 run to close the first half gave Arizona a 37-25 lead at the break, and they never looked back. Prior to securing the outright title, Arizona had clinched at least a share of the championship with a decisive 84-61 victory over No. 14 Kansas. That game featured a massive 19-0 run in the first half that set the tone for the Wildcats. With the regular season wrapped up, the Wildcats will now head to the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 1 seed. Their final regular-season contest is a road game against Colorado.
