Arizona Wildcats Claim Sole Possession of Big 12 Lead with Victory Over Houston
HOUSTON – The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats defeated the No. 2 Houston Cougars 73-66 on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Fertitta Center, securing sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference. Arizona improved to 25-2 overall and 12-2 in conference play, while Houston fell to 23-4 and 11-3.
Dell’Orso Leads Arizona to Victory
Reserve wing Anthony Dell’Orso led Arizona with a season-high 22 points, equaling the same total he scored in the Wildcats’ previous game against BYU. Ivan Kharchenkov contributed 16 points and nine rebounds, while Jaden Bradley added 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists for Arizona.
Game Recap
Arizona, playing without forward Koa Peat (leg injury) and Dwayne Aristode (illness), built a five-point lead at halftime. Houston briefly took the lead in the second half with a 3-pointer by Milos Uzan, but Arizona responded with a 12-0 run to regain control, leading 60-50 with 5:30 remaining. The Cougars struggled with turnovers, committing 12 that resulted in 16 points for the Wildcats.
Key Performances for Houston
Kingston Flemings led Houston with 17 points, and Emanuel Sharp added 14. Despite a late push, including a 3-pointer from Flemings that brought the score to 61-57, Houston could not overcome Arizona’s strong performance.
Coaches’ Comments
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson acknowledged Arizona’s strength, stating, “We’ve had some great battles with Arizona. And they’re really good. They’ve got an outstanding team, really well-coached…They came in here with the right mindset.”
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd praised Sampson, saying, “I don’t know what my coaching career’s going to end up at. But I do know one thing: I’ve become a better coach coaching against Kelvin Sampson.” Lloyd also emphasized the competitiveness of the Big 12 Conference, noting that a team could finish second or third in the conference and still contend for the national championship.
Looking Ahead
Arizona will visit Baylor on Tuesday night. Houston will travel to face No. 8 Kansas on Monday night.