No. 4 Arizona takes down No. 2 Houston, takes first in Big 12 despite being shorthanded in top-four showdown
CBS Sports
by
David Cobb
February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
No. 4 Arizona secured sole first place in the Big 12 standings with a hard-fought 73-66 road victory over No. 2 Houston on Saturday. Despite being shorthanded due to injuries, the Wildcats executed a pivotal 12-0 run in the second half to pull away and hand Houston its first home loss since February 2023. The game marked a significant moment in the Big 12 title race, showcasing Arizona's resilience and defensive prowess as they continue their quest for dominance in their second season in the conference.
The Wildcats' defense was instrumental in the win, holding Houston to just 35.7% shooting and forcing few turnovers. Anthony Dell'Orso led the charge with a strong performance, scoring 22 points to follow up his previous standout game against BYU. Jaden Bradley and Ivan Kharchenkov also contributed crucially with 17 and 16 points respectively. Arizona's rotation was limited in the second half due to injuries, as key players like Koa Peat and Dwayne Aristode were sidelined, forcing the team to rely on just six players.
Houston, who entered the game with high expectations, struggled offensively and defensively. Freshman guard Kingston Flemings led the Cougars
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/21/2026