KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — Jaden Bradley’s pull-up jumper at the buzzer lifted Arizona to an 82-80 win over Iowa State in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at T-Mobile Center. The Wildcats, who trailed by six at halftime, outscored the Cyclones 45-37 after the break before a crowd of 19,450. Anthony Dell’Orso led Arizona with 26 points. Milan Momcilovic scored a game-high 28 for Iowa State, and Joshua Jefferson added 21. Arizona improved to 31-2 overall, while Iowa State fell to 27-7.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — In a heavyweight clash that lived up to its billing, the Arizona Wildcats staged a second-half comeback to edge the Iowa State Cyclones 82-80 in a thrilling Big 12 men’s basketball tournament semifinal on Friday night at T-Mobile Center. A crowd of 19,450 witnessed a game of contrasting halves and relentless execution, culminating in a dramatic final minute where Arizona’s poise proved decisive. The victory improved Arizona’s season record to 31-2, while Iowa State fell to 27-7. The Cyclones, fueled by a blistering offensive start, controlled the first half. They built an early lead behind the sharpshooting of forward Milan Momcilovic, who scored 28 points, and the interior presence of Joshua Jefferson, who added 21. Iowa State shot an efficient 14 of 31 from three-point range for the game, with many of those makes coming in the opening period. They led by as many as nine points and took a 43-37 advantage into halftime, largely by converting 15 points off 12 Arizona turnovers. The second half, however, belonged to the Wildcats and specifically to guard Anthony Dell’Orso. The sophomore from Melbourne, Australia, erupted for 26 points, hitting six three-pointers, with the majority coming after intermission. His scoring barrage keyed a 45-point second-half outburst for Arizona, which shot a scorching 58.6% from the field for the game. Arizona methodically chipped away at the deficit, leveraging its significant advantage in the paint, where it outscored Iowa State 38-26. The Wildcats also operated with greater efficiency, posting an offensive rating of 123.1 on 67 possessions, compared to Iowa State’s 113.0 on 71 possessions. The game tightened into a tense, back-and-forth affair in the final five minutes. With the score tied at 78, Arizona’s Jaden Bradley, who finished with 15 points and seven assists, hit a pull-up jumper to give the Wildcats an 80-78 lead with 45 seconds remaining. Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey, who had eight points and seven assists, answered with a driving layup to knot the score at 80 with 31 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Arizona ran the clock down before Bradley created space at the top of the key and sank another clutch jumper with just 2.2 seconds remaining, putting the Wildcats ahead 82-80. Iowa State’s desperation heave from beyond half-court was off target, sealing the Arizona victory. Beyond Dell’Orso and Bradley, Arizona received a vital contribution from Ivan Kharchenkov of Munich, Germany, who scored 17 points and dished out five assists. Tobe Awaka provided a physical presence off the bench with 10 points and several key offensive rebounds. For Iowa State, Momcilovic’s 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 8-of-15 from deep, led all scorers. Jefferson’s 21 points and Killyan Toure’s 12 points provided support, but the Cyclones’ offense cooled slightly in the second half, shooting 37 points on 44% from the field after a 43-point first half. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. After Lipsey’s tying basket, Arizona showed veteran composure, eschewing a timeout to set up its final play. Bradley, guarded tightly, used a high ball screen and a decisive step-back move to create just enough separation for the game-winning shot, a testament to Arizona’s offensive execution under pressure. This stood in stark contrast to the teams’ previous meeting just 11 days prior, a 73-57 Arizona win, and showcased the elevated stakes of the tournament setting. The Wildcats’ ability to overcome a halftime deficit, limit their turnovers in the second half, and get a defining shot from their point guard in the final moments encapsulated their resilience and championship pedigree. They advance to face the winner of the other semifinal for the Big 12 tournament title.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — A marquee NCAA Tournament showdown is set for Friday night at T-Mobile Center, where the No. 2-seeded Arizona Wildcats (30-2) and the No. 3-seeded Iowa State Cyclones (27-6) will meet in a West Regional semifinal with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. The matchup is a swift rematch from March 2, when Arizona dominated Iowa State 73-57 in Tucson. The Wildcats used a stifling defensive effort in that win, holding the Cyclones to 32.8% shooting. Arizona has lost only twice this season — in overtime to Texas Tech and at Kansas — and enters on a nine-game winning streak. Iowa State, however, presents a formidable challenge, having won 10 of its last 12 games. The Cyclones are coming off a commanding 75-53 victory over Texas Tech in the second round, powered by a standout performance from forward Joshua Jefferson. The junior is playing his best basketball of the season, averaging a double-double over his last three games, including an 18-point, 13-rebound, six-assist effort against the Red Raiders. Arizona counters with its own high-scoring guard in Brayden Burries. The sophomore averages 18.1 points per game and dropped 31 points in a win at Colorado earlier this month. He scored 11 in the first meeting with Iowa State. The game features a compelling clash of styles. Arizona boasts one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, averaging 84.6 points per game. Iowa State, under coach T.J. Otzelberger, is defined by its physical, top-five defense, allowing just 61.2 points per contest. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Arizona is projected with a 71.2% probability to win. The Wildcats have been installed as a 3-point favorite, with the over/under set at 143. Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 8:45 p.m. CDT Friday. The winner will advance to face either seed North Carolina or seed Alabama in the regional final on Sunday.