TUCSON, Ariz. — No. 2 Arizona continued its dominant season Saturday afternoon, pulling away from No. 14 Kansas for an 84-61 victory inside McKale Center at ALKEME Arena. The win clinches at least a share of the Big 12 Conference regular season title and the Wildcats need to win one of the two remaining games to clinch the title outright.Â
Behind a balanced scoring effort and a commanding presence on the glass, the Wildcats (27-2, 14-2 Big 12) controlled the game for nearly its entirety, leading for 37 minutes, 28 seconds in front of a sold out crowd of 14,688.
Brayden Burries paced Arizona with 20 points and 12 rebounds - his third double-double of the season and 10th game with 20 or more points. He also added five assists and zero turnovers. The Wildcats also received 13 points and 10 rebounds from Motiejus Krivas, his eighth double-double of the year.
Koa Peat returned to the court after missing the previous three games with a lower leg muscle strain and finishehd with and 12 points and seven boards. Arizona closed with a 48-26 rebounding advantage, including 14 offensive boards that led to 16 second-chance points.
Arizona set the tone early with a 19-0 run midway through the first half, turning a narrow deficit into a double-digit cushion. The Wildcats shot 48.4% from the field in the opening half and carried a 39-28 lead into the break. Then a 16-0 run in the second half to pull away after Kansas cut the lead down to two.Â
Kansas (21-8, 11-5) struggled to find an offensive rhythm against Arizona's defensive pressure. The Jayhawks shot just 33.8% from the field and were held to 9-of-31 shooting in the first half. Darryn Peterson led Kansas with 24 points, while Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White added 13 points apiece. But Arizona limited second-chance opportunities and forced tough perimeter looks throughout.
The Wildcats maintained control in the second half, extending the margin to as many as 23 points with 24 seconds remaining. Arizona shot 45.5% for the game and converted 30 of 34 free throws, capitalizing on aggressive drives and transition opportunities.Â
Jaden Bradley contributed 10 points and three assists, while Anthony Dell'Orso added nine points off the bench. Arizona's depth proved impactful, with the Wildcats' bench outscoring Kansas' reserves 18-7.
Arizona takes the floor next, welcoming Iowa State ito Tucson on Monday, March 2nd, at 7 p.m. MST. It will be Senior Day for Arizona, with five seniors being recognized approximately 30 minutes prior to tip-off.Â
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