Jaden Bradley delivered the biggest moment of his college career with a dramatic buzzer-beater that lifted No. 2 Arizona to an 82–80 victory over No. 7 Iowa State and sent the Wildcats to the Big 12 championship game.
Bradley admitted he was unsure about the shot when it left his hand and did not even see it go through the net as the backboard lit up, but he quickly realized what happened when teammates piled on top of him in celebration. The moment he said, he felt like something he used to imagine in backyard countdown games, although the postgame dogpile made it difficult for him to breathe.
Wildcats and Cyclones Trade Explosive Shots During Unforgettable Late-Game Scoring Surge
The thrilling finish capped one of the most exciting stretches of basketball this season. Over the final minutes, the two teams combined to make 11 of their last 13 shots, producing a dramatic sequence in which neither defense could find a stop.
Arizona’s Ivan Kharchenkov started the late scoring surge with a turnaround shot in the lane to give the Wildcats a five-point lead. Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic responded with a three-pointer, only for Arizona’s Anthony Dell’Orso to answer with one of his own. The back-and-forth continued with another Momcilovic three, followed by another from Dell’Orso.
Jaden Bradley’s Buzzer Beater Lifts No. 2 Arizona Past Iowa State, Into Big 12 ChampionshipDell’Orso, who finished with 26 points and six three-pointers, credited Bradley for repeatedly finding him open. After Dell’Orso hit another three to extend Arizona’s lead, Iowa State responded again when Joshua Jefferson knocked down a long shot.
In a remarkable stretch, the teams combined for five consecutive three-pointers. Arizona briefly extended its lead when Bradley missed a layup, but teammate Tobe Awaka followed with a dunk. Moments later, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas blocked a layup attempt by Tamin Lipsey, but the Cyclones regained possession and again found Momcilovic, who buried yet another three-pointer.
Defenses Collapse Late as Bradley’s Buzzer-Beater Sends Arizona to Big 12 Final
Despite being two of the top defensive teams in college basketball, neither side managed a stop during the final 4:09 of play. Iowa State finally tied the game when Lipsey, who had struggled all night and was just 1-for-10 from the field, knocked down a clutch three-pointer on the Cyclones’ final possession.
With the game tied in the closing seconds, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd chose not to call a timeout, trusting Bradley to create a play. The Wildcats often emphasize the idea of “figure it out,” encouraging players to make smart decisions in pressure situations. Bradley drove to his spot and launched a contested mid-range jumper that fell through as time expired.
The shot sparked a celebration among Arizona players and fans, especially impressive given that Iowa State held a strong crowd advantage. Bradley’s clutch performance secured the win and sent the Wildcats to the conference title game.
