March has a way of exposing weaknesses, but it’s also a stage for teams to showcase their resilience.
And under head coach Tommy Lloyd, the Arizona Wildcats did exactly that.
With a trip to the Sweet Sixteen on the line, the No. 1 seed in the West Region survived a late surge from Utah State, holding on for a hard-fought 78–66 victory and advancing to their third straight Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Early on, it looked like Arizona might cruise.
The Wildcats wasted no time setting the tone, opening the game with a three-pointer from Brayden Burries and quickly asserting control. Behind a dominant presence on the glass, Arizona built an early lead that seemed to signal a long night for Utah State.
Arizona finished with a staggering +28 rebound differential, a stat that created an 18-point cushion and made it seem like they would walk into the Sweet Sixteen with ease.
“We had 22 offensive rebounds, and obviously that’s a key component to our success,” said Lloyd.
But Utah State, fresh off winning both the Mountain West regular season and tournament titles, refused to fold.
“They were impressive,” Lloyd said, praising the Aggies. “They had answers for everything.”
After falling behind early, the Aggies clawed their way back into the game with relentless determination. Their persistence paid off late, as they surged back from that double-digit deficit, threatening to complete a stunning comeback and destroy brackets across the country.
But Arizona showed why it earned a No. 1 seed.
As momentum began to swing, Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley took control. In the midst of Utah State’s run, with Arizona on the ropes, Bradley delivered a crucial and-one layup with 5:47 remaining to steady the Wildcats.
Moments later, after Utah State’s Drake Allen knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead to four, Bradley answered again, finishing a tough shot at the 4:41 mark to halt the surge. Bradley finished with 18 points, providing the steady scoring Arizona needed in crunch time.
When asked how he stayed confident during the crucial stretch, Bradley said, “Just trusting my work. I know my teammates believe in me.”
While Bradley’s shot-making proved vital, Arizona’s closing effort was a total team performance.
Motiejus Krivas delivered in key moments at the free-throw line, calmly going 2-for-2 on multiple trips in the final minutes when every point mattered for the Wildcats. He also anchored Arizona’s dominance on the boards, pulling down 14 rebounds in a commanding interior performance.
When Utah State made one final push, Burries, who delivered the opening strike, drove the dagger into Utah State’s heart with a deep three-pointer from near the logo with 2:18 left, sealing the game and sending the Wildcats into the next round.
“I think Braden is a winner, and he has the ultimate confidence,” Lloyd said. “He has that killer in him.”
Utah State’s fight made it anything but easy for Arizona, but their composure, physicality on the boards and timely shot-making proved too much to overcome.
Even in defeat, Utah State, a team that exceeded expectations this year, walks out of San Diego with its head held high.
“Really proud of our guys. To do some of the things this group was able to accomplish is not easy,” said Aggies head coach Jerrod Calhoun. “One of the most connected teams I’ve ever been a part of. Wearing the Utah State uniform truly meant something to these guys.”
While Utah State’s season ends, Arizona moves on to even tougher competition.
Next up, the Wildcats face John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks, a team loaded with talent and experience that will test Arizona on both ends of the floor.
The Wildcats suffered a scare in San Diego, and in the coming rounds, they might not get away with letting a lead slip away. Every opponent from here on out will be tougher, every possession more critical, and every lapse more costly.
But in March, survival is everything.
And for now, the Wildcats keep dancing.
