Arizona vs Houston basketball updates: Wildcats hold off Cougars for Big 12 championship

The foregone conclusion has finally become reality for the 2026 men's Big 12 Tournament.

The top team in the conference, No. 2 Arizona, has claimed its first Big 12 championship, downing No. 5 Houston 79-74 to claim conference supremacy in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, March 14.

Koa Peat was named player of the game with a 21-point, six-rebound performance against the Cougars. Four other Wildcats players scored in the double digits, including Ivan Kharchenkov (12 points), Brayden Burries (21 points) and Jaden Bradley (13 points).

While Arizona showed spurts of dominance in the game, Kelvin Sampson and Houston never made it easy for the Wildcats, even going on a 14-0 second-half run to bring the score to within one point. But Arizona never blinked, continuing to utilize good defense and make smart shots to keep Houston from closing the distance fully. One contributing factor was the disparity in foul shots: Arizona shot 23-of-27 from the charity stripe, while Houston shot 10-of-14.

Houston had three players score in the double digits, as Joseph Tugler scored 20 points off 9-of-15 shooting. Chase McCarty and Mercy Miller scored 10 and 13 points, respectively, off the bench.

Check out USA Today Sports' updates, scores and highlights from the 2026 Big 12 Championship:

Arizona vs Houston highlights

Arizona vs Houston score

Final: Arizona 79, Houston 74

Houston's furious comeback attempt falls short, as Arizona avenges last year's Big 12 Championship loss against the Cougars with a 79-74 win. Arizona is your Big 12 champion, a day before it is officially labeled a 1 seed in the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament. Koa Peat is the Big 12 Championship Player of the Game with 21 points and six rebounds.

Motiejus Krivas hits free throws to extend Arizona lead

Motiejus Krivas hits a pair of must-have free throws to extend Arizona's lead to 77-72 with 22 seconds left. On the opposite end, Koa Peat fouls out with 21 points and the Wildcats nursing a five-point lead with 13.1 seconds to play.

Houston draws within 3 with under a minute left

Houston hits a pair of timely 3s with Mercy Miller and Milos Uzan to make it 75-72 Arizona. The Wildcats take a timeout with 48.5 seconds left in the game.

Emanuel Sharp fouls out

Trailing 73-66 with 1:31 left to play, Houston loses one of its best 3-point weapons as Emanuel Sharp fouls out with 10 points. Arizona is starting to clamp down late.

Arizona pulls away for 69-62 lead

Ivan Kharchenkov is doing his part to help Arizona win the Big 12 Championship with a 3-pointer, made field goal and two made free throws. He has the Wildcats' last seven points. The Wildcats lead 69-62 with 3:56 remaining.

Arizona finally snaps Houston 14-0 run

It's game on in the Big 12 Championship game. Houston goes on an incredible 14-0 run that's finally stopped by a Brayden Burries and-1. Houston has a chance to make it 62-58 but this is far from the blowout it was shaping up to be.

Houston on 10-0 run Arizona falls into foul trouble

Houston's mounting something of a comeback, pulling to within five points of the Wildcats with 9:32 minutes left to play off a 10-0 run. Several Wildcats players are in foul trouble as well, as Koa Peat and Tobe Awaka have four fouls apiece. Motiejus Krivas has three fouls.

Arizona holds 59-37 lead at under-12 timeout

It's all Arizona in the second half, as the Wildcats now hold a 12-point lead at the under-12 timeout following a Houston 3-pointer. It will be Cougars ball out of the timeout.

Houston scores first basket of second half

It took over 3 minutes into the second half, but Houston finally scores its first basket from a Chase McCarty 3-pointer. Houston will need a lot more of that to get back into this, as Arizona leads 53-39 with 15:49 left in the game.

Jaden Bradley leaves game

Potentially significant update in the Big 12 Championship, as Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley appears to hurt his left wrist as Emanuel Sharp is called for the foul, his third of the game. He leaves the game and heads to the locker room.

Houston takes another timeout out of halftime

Arizona opens the second half with a 4-0 run, forcing Sampson to take his second timeout with 18:13 to play. There is some frustration brewing on the Cougars' sideline.

Big 12 Championship halftime stats

Here's a look at the halftime stats with Arizona holding a 44-36 lead:

• Field goals: Houston 14 of 28 (50%) | Arizona 15 of 30 (50%)
• 3-pointers: Houston 3 of 9 (33.33%) | Arizona 4 of 9 (44%)
• Free throws: Houston 5 of 6 (83%) | Arizona 10 of 11 (91%)
• Rebounds: Houston 11 | Arizona 11
• Assists: Houston 5 | Arizona 6
• Steals: Houston N/A | Arizona N/A
• Blocks: Houston N/A | Arizona N/A
• Turnovers: Houston 5 | Arizona 2
• Fouls: Houston 10 | Arizona 7
• Largest lead: Houston 2 | Arizona 8
• Percentage of game led: Houston 5% | Arizona 87%

Brayden Burries has Arizona's last 10 points

Houston refuses to go away, but Arizona is doing its part in maintaining a somewhat comfortable distance from the Cougars. The Cougars have 44-36 lead with 13.1 seconds in the half, and they have Brayden Burries to thank for it. He has their last 10 points.

Houston, Arizona tied at 33

Tie ballgame! A tough field goal from Kingston Flemings in the paint knots it up 33-33 with 3:36 left in the first half.

Mercy Miller 3 brings Houston to within 2

Mercy, Miller. A massive 3-pointer from the sophomore guard makes the score 31-29 in favor of Arizona. Houston makes its last four shots and the pace is beginning to pick up in the Big 12 Championship.

Houston rumbles back at under-8 timeout

And now here's Houston with a 6-0 run off two made field goals and two made free throws. The Cougars have cut the deficit to 22-20 at the under-8 timeout with 8:00 left to pay in the half.

Wildcats have 6-0 run in less than a minute

Wildcats go on a 6-0 run in less than a minute out of the under-12 timeout, growing their lead to 22-14 with 10:25 and forcing Kelvin Sampson to burn his first timeout, down 22-14.

Arizona leads 16-14 at under-12 timeout

Arizona holds a slim 16-14 lead with 11:39 left in the half. The Wildcats also have a slim shooting lead, going 6-of-12 from the field compared to Houston's 6-of-13.

Jaden Bradley off to hot start

Jaden Bradley is off to a hot start, scoring eight of Arizona's 14 points, including six off two made 3-pointers.

Chris Cenac 3 caps 7-0 run for Houston at under 16 timeout

Arizona started the game with a 5-0 run. Houston has since rebounded, so to speak, going on a 7-0 run, capped with a Chris Cenac Jr. 3-pointer at the under-16 timeout.

Koa Peat opens scoring in Big 12 Championship

Koa Peats opens the scoring in the Big 12 Championship with an easy 2-pointer, and we're off from the T-Mobile Center!

What channel is Arizona vs Houston basketball on today?

• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

The Big 12 Championship will air nationally on ESPN. Streaming options include the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Arizona vs Houston start time today

• Date: Saturday, March 14
• Time: 6:10 p.m. ET | 5:10 p.m. CT
• Location: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, Missouri)

The Big 12 Championship is scheduled to tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET (5:10 p.m. local) from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Saturday, March 14.

Arizona vs Houston odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM on Saturday, March 14

• Odds: Arizona (-1.5)
• Over/under: 138.5
• Moneyline: Arizona (-135) | Houston (+110)