The Houston Cougars, ranked No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, won the Big 12 tournament championship after a 72-64 victory over the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats on Saturday night.
Houston receives an automatic bid to the men’s NCAA Tournament. The bracket will be announced on Selection Sunday.
Houston (30-4, 19-1 Big 12) has been one of the best teams in the nation all season and hasn’t lost since its one-point squeaker to Texas Tech, 82-81, on Feb. 1. The Cougars earned the top seed in the Big 12 tournament and advanced to the championship game after routing 18th-ranked and No. 4 seed BYU 74-54 in Friday’s semifinals.
It’s been a much more up-and-down season for Arizona (22-12, 14-6 Big 12). Still, the Wildcats, who earned the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 tournament, have scored some impressive wins. That includes Friday’s 86-80 win over ninth-ranked and No. 2 seed Texas Tech in the semifinals.
Arizona and Houston met earlier this year, with the Cougars winning 62-58 in Houston on Feb. 15.
USA TODAY Sports has the best highlights and analysis from the Big 12 tournament championship:
Highlights: Houston beats Arizona
Milos Uzan scored a game-high 25 points along with four rebounds for Houston in the victory.
Emanuel Sharp added 17 points for the Cougars.
Caleb Love scored 19 points for Arizona while Jaden Bradley added 14 points in the loss.
Final: Houston 72, Arizona 64
Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp lead Houston to the Big 12 Tournament Championship.
The Cougars finished the game on an 11-2 scoring run.
Arizona will fall short in its first season as a member of the conference.
Houston tries to hold on in final seconds of regulation
Milos Uzan and the Cougars hold a four-point lead over Arizona with 42 seconds left in the second half.
Arizona is back in front of Houston
Arizona has rallied to retake the lead at 62-61 with 5:20 left in the second half. The Wildcats trailed by as much as 10 points in the period.
Houston starting to pull away
Milos Uzan collected a rebound on defense before coming down the other end and making a jumper to give the Cougars a 10-point lead.
Houston’s 56-46 lead against Arizona with 11:20 remaining in the second half was the largest lead of the game.
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley made a layup with 11:04 left in the period to cut into Houston’s lead and make it an eight-point game.
Houston and Arizona continue to keep the game close
The Cougars lead the Wildcats 49-44 with 13:08 left in the second half. Emanuel Sharp has a game-high 15 points and two rebounds while Milos Uzan has added 13 points, three assists and two rebounds for the Cougars.
Arizona’s Caleb Love has not managed to score so far in the second half after scoring 14 in the first half.
Arizona vs. Houston first half highlights:
Houston took the early lead during the first half but it was Caleb Love and Arizona that managed to keep it close before taking over the lead prior to halftime.
Big 12 Tournament court reaction
The court used for the Big 12 men’s basketball isn’t for everyone. Honestly it’s not easy on the eyes at first glance.
I initially felt like I was watching the game from a screen door or window because of the ‘XII’ logo-patterned design on the hardwood. XII is the Roman numeral for 12.
The court received mixed reviews from several others but Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark wanted a “profound statement” during the conference’s basketball tournaments, according to Front Office Sports.
The court was used during the women’s tournament in early March in Kansas City.
Yormark indicated during an interview with Big 12 studios that the XII pattern could also appear on branded luggage and hoodies in the future.
Halftime: Arizona 33, Houston 28
The Wildcats will take the lead into the locker room after halftime.
Henri Veesaar was credited with the offensive rebound and scoring on a tip shot after Caleb Love missed a jumper in the final seconds of the first half. Love had a game-high 14 points in the first half. Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp each scored eight points for Houston in the first half.
Arizona pulls ahead for first time against Houston
Tobe Awaka made a jumper to provide the Wildcats with their first lead of the game. Arizona leads Houston 21-19 with 5:52 left in the first half.
Mylik Wilson of Houston made a jumper to tie the game back up at 21 but Arizona worked its way down the court to get back in front.
Jaden Bradley made a three-pointer off an assist from Carter Bryant to take the 24-21 lead with 5:01 left in the first half.
Arizona on a scoring run to tie game
Caleb Love and the Wildcats have tied the game with Arizona at 19 with 5:53 left in the first half after an 8-0 scoring run. Love has nine points and two rebounds.
Emanuel Sharp, Houston continues to hold lead
Emanuel Sharp has made both of his 3-point attempts and has a team-high six points as the Cougars lead early against the Wildcats 17-9 with 10:32 left in the first half.
Milos Uzan has five points and two rebounds for Houston.
Houston leads Arizona in early minutes of first half
Houston’s L.J. Cryer makes a jumper with 16:17 left in the first half to extend the lead to five points in the first half. Arizona would get on the board with its first points of the game after Henri Veesaar received a pass from KJ Lewis and dunked the ball.
J’Wan Roberts not playing for Houston in Big 12 title game
J’Wan Roberts has been spotted in street clothes and will not play tonight for Houston. The team decided to sit out the star forward as a precaution. The sixth-year player has a brace on to protect his sprained right ankle.
Houston strikes first to start game vs. Arizona
Houston won the jump ball to start the game. Emanuel Sharp puts the Cougars on the scoreboard first with a three-pointer off an assist from Milos Uzan.
When is Big 12 Championship Game between Houston and Arizona?
The Big 12 Championship game between the No. 2 Houston Cougars and the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, and tips off at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local) at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
How to watch Houston and Arizona in the Big 12 Championship
The Big 12 Championship game between the Houston Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats will be televised nationally on ESPN, with streaming available on ESPN+ as well as Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Watch the Big 12 Championship with a Fubo subscription
Houston vs. Arizona: Big 12 Championship odds
The Houston Cougars are favorites to defeat the Arizona Wildcats, according to BetMGM.
Odds as of Saturday, March 15
- Spread: Houston (-6.5)
- Moneyline: Houston (-275); Arizona (-220)
- Over/under: 135.5
Big 12 Championship predictions: Houston vs. Arizona
The Arizona Republic: Houston 76, Arizona 74
Jeremy Cluff writes, ‘These teams played a close game in Tucson on Feb. 15, with Houston earning a 62-58 win at McKale Center. Could we be in for another close game in the Big 12 title game? The Cougars are among the favorites to win the national title.’
Sports Illustrated: Houston to win and cover
Iain MacMillan writes, ‘Houston is also second in the country in extra scoring chances, creating +7.9 per game. That’s an area they can take advantage of against the Wildcats. Arizona ranks outside the top 100 in turnovers, coughing up the ball on 15.7% of possessions.
‘If the Cougars can win the turnover battle in this game and continue the hot shooting they’ve had in this tournament, they’re going to win and cover.’
Big 12 Tournament Bracket, Results
All times ET
Thursday, March 13 — Quarterfinals
- No. 4 BYU 96 def. No. 5 Iowa State 92
- No. 1 Houston 77 def. No. 16 Colorado 68
- No. 2 Texas Tech 76 def. No. 7 Baylor 74
- No. 3 Arizona 88 def. No. 6 Kansas 77
Friday, March 14 — Semifinals
- No. 1 Houston 74 def. No. 4 BYU 54
- No. 3 Arizona 86 def. No. 2 Texas Tech 80
Saturday, March 15 — Championship
- No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 1 Houston | 6 p.m.
Big 12 bubble teams heading into Selection Sunday
The Big 12 is projected to send eight teams to the NCAA men’s tournament, and the nice part is all of the projected teams aren’t in the bubble or at risk of missing out. The real story is teams are fighting to position themselves for the best possible seed on Selection Sunday. Teams at risk of being double-digit seeds in March Madness include West Virginia and Baylor. — Jordan Mendoza
How to watch Selection Sunday: Time, date, TV and streaming
The March Madness bracket reveal will start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 16. It will be broadcast by CBS.
- Date: Sunday, March 16
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
- Stream: Paramount+, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription for new users
Watch Selection Sunday with Fubo
Bracketology: NCAA Tournament field projection
March Madness bracket bubble teams:
USA TODAY’S Eddie Timanus, Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg have the following predictions ahead of Selection Sunday:
Last four in
Ohio State, Oklahoma, Xavier, Indiana.
First four out
Boise State, Texas, Colorado State, North Carolina.
NCAA Tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: SEC (13), Big Ten (10), Big 12 (8), Big East (5), Mountain West (3), ACC (3), West Coast (2).
Big 12 tournament court garners buzz for its design
The Big 12 partnered with another streetwear brand, ‘Undefeated,’ for its court design in 2025 — which hasn’t received the best reviews so far. The court takes inspiration from Undefeated’s ‘iconic 5-strike logo,’ according to the conference. — Austin Curtright
Selection Sunday: When does men’s March Madness bracket come out?
The full 68-team bracket will be announced on Sunday, March 16, with the selection show beginning at 6 p.m. ET. It will air on CBS with streaming available on Paramount+ and Fubo.
When does the women’s March Madness bracket come out?
The complete women’s March Madness bracket featuring 68 teams will be revealed on Sunday, March 16, with a Selection Sunday broadcast set for 8 p.m. ET. The reveal will be broadcast on ESPN.
When does March Madness begin?
The men’s and women’s tournaments will begin with the First Four matchups next week. The men’s side will be played on March 18 and 19 at the University of Dayton.
The women’s First Four will begin a day later, with all four games taking place between March 19 and 20.
Houston men’s basketball roster
23 – Terrance Arceneaux, G
4 – L.J. Cryer, G
5 – Ja’Vier Francis, F
0 – Kordelius Jefferson, G
2 – Cedric Lath, C
24 – Chase McCarty, F
12 – Jacob McFarland, C
25 – Mercy Miller, G
13 – J’Wan Roberts, F
21 – Emanuel Sharp, G
11 – Joseph Tugler, F
7 – Milos Uzan, G
3 – Ramon Walker Jr., G
8 – Mylik Wilson, G
Arizona men’s basketball roster
2 – Addison Arnold, G
30 – Tobe Awaka, F
0 – Jaden Bradley, G
9 – Carter Bryant, F
24 – Luke Champion, F
21 – Jackson Cook, G
3 – Anthony Dell’Orso, G
42 – Sven Djopmo, G
8 – Jackson Francois, G
14 – Motiejus Krivas, C
12 – Will Kuykendall, G
5 – KJ Lewis, G
11 – Liam Lloyd, G
1 – Caleb Love, G
55 – Conrad Martinez, G
33 – Will Menaugh, F
34 – Emmanuel Stephen, C
4 – Trey Townsend, F
13 – Henri Veesaar, F
15 – Grant Weitman, G
March Madness schedule: Bracket dates
Men’s tournament
- First Four: March 18 – 19
- Round of 64: March 20 – 21
- Round of 32: March 22 – 23
- Sweet 16: March 27 – 28
- Elite Eight: March 29 – 30
- Final Four: April 5
- NCAA Championship: April 7
Women’s tournament
- First Four: March 19 – 20
- Round of 64: March 21 – 22
- Round of 32: March 23 – 24
- Sweet 16: March 28 – 29
- Elite Eight: March 30 – 31
- Final Four: April 4
- NCAA Championship: April 6
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