KEY POINTS
- Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries combined for 49 points to lead Arizona to an 87-80 comeback victory.
- The Wildcats erased a 10-point second-half deficit to move two games clear at the top of the Big 12 standings.
- Baylor’s Cameron Carr scored a game-high 26 points, but the Bears fell despite leading for much of the first half.
Arizona took a massive step toward a conference title with a gritty road performance in Waco on Tuesday night. The second-ranked Wildcats overcame a sluggish start to defeat Baylor in a high-stakes Big 12 showdown. This victory gives Arizona a two-game lead in the loss column with only three regular-season games remaining. The game featured a tense atmosphere at Foster Pavilion as the home side fought to keep its post-season hopes alive.
Jaden Bradley delivered a standout performance for the Wildcats, finishing with a team-high 25 points. He was particularly effective from long range, connecting on a career-best five shots from beyond the arc. His backcourt partner, Brayden Burries, was equally dominant and added 24 points of his own. Together, the two guards played every minute of the second half to lead the offensive charge.
Baylor controlled the tempo early on and utilized its interior size to build a comfortable lead. Cameron Carr spearheaded the Bears’ attack, scoring 26 points and keeping the Arizona defense on its heels. The Bears went into the locker room at halftime with a seven-point advantage. Shortly after the break, a three-pointer from Tounde Yessoufou extended that lead to 10 points.
The Wildcats responded to the adversity with a 14-2 scoring run to reclaim the lead. The second half became a back-and-forth battle involving 13 lead changes in the final 15 minutes. Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka provided essential support in the paint during this stretch. Awaka anchored the rebounding effort, finishing the night with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Critical mistakes in the closing minutes ultimately cost the Bears a chance at the upset. Baylor missed several key free throws and allowed Arizona to secure vital second-chance opportunities. A late jumper by Bradley gave Arizona the lead for good with just over four minutes on the clock. The Wildcats then sealed the result at the free-throw line in the final seconds.
Arizona improved its overall record to 26-2 while dealing Baylor its fifth loss in six games. The Wildcats’ ability to win on the road in the Big 12 has solidified their status as a national title contender. Coach Tommy Lloyd praised his team’s mental toughness after being shorthanded due to recent injuries. The program now looks toward its final stretch of games with significant momentum.
