03/28/26 10:28:00
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03/28 22:14 CDT Arizona reaches its first Final Four in 25 years with 79-64 win
over Purdue
Arizona reaches its first Final Four in 25 years with 79-64 win over Purdue
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) --- Arizona is headed back to the Final Four for the
first time in 25 years after the top-seeded Wildcats got 20 points from
freshman Koa Peat to beat Purdue 79-64 in the NCAA Tournament's West Region
final on Saturday night.
After years of disappointment in March, coach Tommy Lloyd has gotten Arizona
(36-2) back to being a championship contender thanks to a talented freshman
class led by Peat to go along with veterans like Big 12 Player of the Year
Jaden Bradley.
The Wildcats showed they can win in almost any style. They used a nearly
flawless performance on offense to beat Arkansas in the Sweet 16 and then shut
down one of the nation's most efficient offenses against second-seeded Purdue
(30-9).
Arizona frustrated the NCAA record-holder in assists, Braden Smith, and
prevented his fellow four-year seniors Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer
from getting into a rhythm. Purdue was held to its second-lowest point total of
the season and shot just 38% from the field.
Arizona used an 16-3 run early in the second half to erase a seven-point
halftime deficit and take a six-point lead on a 3-pointer from Anthony
Dell'Orso. The Wildcats stayed in control from there. Brayden Burries hit a
3-pointer, and after a turnover by Smith, Ivan Kharchenkov made a layup for an
11-point lead.
Peat put the exclamation point on the win with dunk that made it 68-55 with
less than six minutes remaining, sending the Wildcats to Indianapolis next week
on a 13-game winning streak.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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