Kansas Hands No. 1 Arizona Its First Loss Behind Flory Bidunga’s Breakout Performance
In front of a raucous Allen Fieldhouse crowd, No. 9 Kansas delivered a statement win Monday night, knocking off top-ranked Arizona 82-78 and ending the Wildcats’ perfect season. The Jayhawks leaned on a massive night from freshman big man Flory Bidunga, who poured in 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, anchoring a resilient Kansas squad that clawed back from a double-digit second-half deficit.
Arizona, now 23-1 overall and 10-1 in Big 12 play, had been riding the best start in conference history. But their first stumble came in Lawrence, where Kansas (19-5, 9-2) finally broke through against a No. 1-ranked opponent at home.
The Jayhawks had been 0-5 all-time at Allen Fieldhouse in such games, including a loss to Arizona back in 2003. On Monday night, that streak ended.
And they did it without freshman star Darryn Peterson, who missed his 11th game of the season-this time due to flu-like symptoms. Already battling through ankle and hamstring injuries earlier in the year, Peterson’s absence didn’t stop Kansas from extending its win streak to eight.
Second-Half Surge Turns the Tide
Arizona came out of halftime with momentum, stretching its lead to 11 points just over three minutes into the second half. Brayden Burries was electric for the Wildcats, finishing with 25 points and leading a 7-0 burst that gave Arizona a 55-44 edge. But Kansas didn’t flinch.
Melvin Council Jr., who matched Bidunga with 23 points while adding six rebounds and six assists, sparked the Jayhawks’ response. Kansas rattled off seven straight points, including five from Council, to get back in it. From there, the game turned into a heavyweight slugfest.
The Jayhawks took their first lead of the second half at 65-64 on a Bidunga layup with 9:32 to play, part of a 25-9 run that flipped the game and gave Kansas a 69-64 advantage with just under seven minutes remaining.
Closing Time at the Phog
With the pressure mounting, Kansas executed down the stretch like a veteran squad. Bidunga calmly knocked down two free throws with 1:35 left to put the Jayhawks up 75-71. After Jaden Bradley missed a floater for Arizona, Council drove hard to the rim and finished to extend the lead to six.
But Arizona wasn’t done. Bradley scored, then Burries hit a clutch three following a Kansas turnover to cut it to 77-76 with 34 seconds left. Council answered at the line, hitting two free throws to push the lead back to three.
Then came the play of the night: Burries attacked the rim, but Bidunga met him at the summit, swatting the shot and preserving the lead. Council was fouled again, and while he split the pair, it was enough. Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas hit a jumper to make it 80-78, but Tre White iced the game with two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining.
Key Contributors on Both Sides
Bidunga’s performance was a coming-out party. The freshman dominated both ends, controlling the paint and delivering when it mattered most.
Council was equally impactful, orchestrating the offense and coming through in crunch time. Bryson Tiller added 18 points and eight boards, giving Kansas a much-needed interior presence alongside Bidunga.
For Arizona, Burries was brilliant, and Krivas did his part with 14 points and 15 rebounds. But the Wildcats couldn’t hold off Kansas’ second-half surge, and their 23-game win streak came to a halt.
What’s Next in the Rankings Race
With Arizona falling from the unbeaten ranks, the door opens for Michigan to potentially claim the No. 1 spot in the next round of polls. The Wolverines, currently sitting at 22-1, have won eight straight since their lone loss to Wisconsin back in January. They’ll face Northwestern on Wednesday before hosting UCLA on Saturday-two more chances to solidify their claim to the top.
But Monday night belonged to Kansas. In a season full of twists, the Jayhawks just added a signature win to their résumé-and they did it in front of their home fans, against the nation’s best, without one of their top players. That’s the kind of performance that can define a season.