Arizona Survives BYU's Surge, Extends Perfect Season in Road Thriller
The Arizona Wildcats are still perfect-and they earned every bit of that unblemished record Monday night in Provo.
In what was easily their toughest Big 12 road test of the season so far, the No. 1-ranked Wildcats (21-0, 8-0 Big 12) held off a furious late rally from No. 13 BYU (17-3, 5-2 Big 12) to escape with a gritty 86-83 win. It wasn’t just a statement-it was a battle cry from a team that continues to prove why it’s sitting atop the college basketball mountain.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a cruise-control kind of win. Arizona built a 19-point lead at one point, but BYU clawed back with the kind of urgency you expect from a top-15 team defending its home court. Still, when the game tightened, Arizona didn’t flinch-and that’s what championship teams do.
Backcourt Brilliance Carries the Day
Arizona’s dynamic backcourt duo of Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley was flat-out electric. Burries, the freshman phenom, led the way with 29 points and came up with the game-saving block in the final moments-a play that punctuated an already standout performance.
Bradley, the senior leader, added 26 points of his own. Together, they shot a blistering 60.7% from the field (17-of-28) and combined for seven assists and five steals.
That kind of efficiency and poise under pressure is rare-especially on the road, in a hostile environment, against a team that had won 17 of its first 19 games. Burries and Bradley didn’t just show up-they took over.
Defense Delivers in Key Moments
While Arizona’s offense often grabs the headlines, it was the defense that made the difference when it mattered most. The Wildcats held BYU to just 40.3% shooting from the field-well below the Cougars’ season average of 49.1%.
That kind of disruption doesn’t happen by accident. Arizona forced BYU into tough looks all night and contested shots with intensity, especially in the closing minutes.
And when BYU had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, it was Burries who stepped up with the game-sealing block. One play, one stop, and the Wildcats walked out of Provo still undefeated.
The Road Ahead: A Breather Before the Storm
Arizona has earned a brief reprieve, with upcoming games against Arizona State (11-9, 2-5 Big 12) and Oklahoma State (14-6, 2-5 Big 12) over the next two weeks. On paper, those matchups favor the Wildcats, but in conference play, nothing’s guaranteed.
The real test begins in February.
From Feb. 9 through Mar. 2, Arizona will run a Big 12 gauntlet that includes two matchups with No.
14 Kansas, a rematch with BYU, and battles against No. 11 Texas Tech, No.
10 Houston, and No. 8 Iowa State.
That stretch could define their season-and their shot at history.
But here’s the thing: this Arizona team has already shown it’s built for the grind. In nine Quad 1 games, they’re averaging 83.3 points per contest, and they’ve proven they can win close ones.
Four of those Quad 1 wins have come by six points or fewer, including Monday night’s thriller. That kind of experience matters when every possession counts.
BYU Brings the Fight, But Arizona Doesn’t Blink
Credit to BYU-they brought the intensity and nearly pulled off the comeback. The Cougars showed why they’re one of the toughest teams in the Big 12, and they’ll be a problem for anyone in March.
But Arizona didn’t blink. They absorbed the run, made the plays, and walked out with a win that says more about their championship DNA than any blowout ever could.
At 21-0, Arizona’s perfect season is still intact. And if Monday night is any indication, it’s going to take something special to take them down.