It wasn’t easy, but the Wildcats added to an already historic season with a narrow road win in the regular season finale. Tommy Lloyd’s dynamic freshman duo each dominated a half of play to help secure the 29th regular season win of the season, setting a program record. With the Big 12 regular season title locked up, Arizona Men’s Basketball survived a tough test against the Colorado Buffaloes, winning 89-79 in Boulder.
Jaden Bradley was held scoreless for the first time this season, and just the fourth time in his career at Arizona, but it didn’t matter for the Wildcats. Freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries were electric in the first and second half, respectively. After an underwhelming offensive performance against Iowa State, Peat finished with 25 points, three rebounds, and four assists on an efficient 12-15 from the field. His nine-made field goals are the most he’s scored in a half this season.
“When your team’s not playing good, it’s great to have a guy like that step up and keep your team in the game, and Koa did a great job of that in the first half,” said Tommy Lloyd postgame.
Burries scored a career-high 31 points, connecting on 9-16 from the field, including 2-5 from the perimeter, and 11-12 from the charity stripe. He also contributed seven rebounds and a career-high five steals. Ivan Kharchenkov, Motiejus Krivas, and Tobe Awaka also finished in double-figures, scoring 10 points apiece.
Arizona struggled mightily in the first half, shooting 0-6 from 3-point range, compared to 6-15 by Colorado. The Buffaloes also took a 22-18 edge on the glass, as well as a 11-4 advantage in second chance points into the locker room, as the Wildcats trailed 38-36. But the second half was all Arizona, largely in part to Burries’ 22 second-half points. After halftime, the Wildcats outscored the Buffaloes 53-41, dominating the boards 19-10, while limiting CU’s ability to score in transition or off second chance opportunities.
“I had been bouncing around a few plans to change our rotation, play more guys. And then when I saw the way we came out, a little bit flat, not great energy, I thought it was more important that we figured out how to dig back in the game and draw on that, rather than maybe play some other guys,” said Tommy Lloyd postgame.
Colorado freshman Isaiah Johnson finished with 28 points, three rebounds, and five assist on 7-14 shooting, including 4-6 from 3-point range, and 10-11 from the free throw line. Barrington Hargress (13) and Jalin Holland (12) also scored in double figures for Tad Boyle’s Buffaloes.
Arizona and Colorado traded blows early, with Koa Peat scoring six of the first seven field goals for the UA. Colorado’s Isaiah Johnson grew the Buffaloes’ lead to as many as 11 points with 4:21 in the first half, connecting on three triples. But the Wildcats responded, closing the half on a 12-2 run that cut the Colorado lead to one-possession, 38-36, heading into the locker room.
The offense picked up in the second half, with both teams coming out of the locker room aggressive. The two sides traded buckets on the first two possessions, before an Ivan Kharchenkov layup cut the lead to 44-43 with 18:02 to play. CU’s Jalin Holland responded with a bucket, but then it was time for another Arizona run. Brayden Burries hit the Wildcats’ first triple of the game with 17:24 to play, tying the game at 46 and spurring an 8-0 run to give the UA a 51-46 lead, it’s first of the game. Colorado did not go quietly though, as Bangot Dak hit back-to-back jumpers to give the Buffaloes a 54-52 lead with 13:21 remaining.
Over the next four minutes, Arizona and Colorado traded buckets and the lead, before a Koa Peat layup and a Brayden Burries triple gave the Wildcats a 66-62 lead with 9:17 to play. Arizona then used a 10-2 run, including 3-pointers from Dwayne Aristode and Ivan Kharchenkov to take a 76-66 lead with 5:48 remaining. CU came within six points two more times before the end of the game, but Brayden Burries scored the final nine points, including 5-6 from the free throw line, as the Wildcats escaped on top, 89-79.
Arizona now turns its attention to the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. The Wildcats are the 1-seed after securing the Big 12 regular season title and have clinched a double-bye. 9-seed Cincinnati and 16-seed Utah face off on Tuesday, with the winner taking on 8-seed UCF on Wednesday. Arizona will face the winner of UCF and Utah/Cincinnati on Thursday, March 12, at 12:00 PM MST on ESPN or ESPN2.