Arizona defeats BYU 75–68 to remain atop the Big 12 standings

 



🏀 Arizona defeats BYU 75–68 to stay atop the Big 12

February 18, 2026


Game Context

The McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona hosted an intense Big 12 matchup. The Arizona Wildcats (24–2, 11–2 Big 12) defended their home court and beat the BYU Cougars (19–7, 7–6 Big 12) by a score of 75–68 on February 18, 2026.

With this result, Arizona remains tied at the top of the conference with Houston, while BYU stays in the middle of the standings, still fighting to secure its NCAA tournament spot.


Game Flow

  • First Half: Arizona built a 42–35 lead thanks to the offensive explosiveness of AJ Dybantsa.
  • Second Half: BYU tried to rally, but the Wildcats maintained control and closed the game with solid defense.
  • Key Moments: Arizona held a maximum lead of 16 points and led for 76% of the contest, showing dominance in decisive stretches.

Individual Leaders

Arizona Wildcats

  • AJ Dybantsa (#3): 35 points, 13/28 FG, 7/8 FT
  • Ivan Kharchenkov (#8): 7 rebounds
  • Jaden Bradley (#0): 10 assists in 38 minutes

BYU Cougars

  • Anthony Dell’Orso (#3): 22 points, 8/15 FG
  • Keba Keita (#13): 9 rebounds (5 defensive, 4 offensive)
  • Robert Wright III (#1): 3 assists

Team Statistics

CategoryBYUArizona
FG%43% (25–58)45% (29–64)
3PT%26% (5–19)43% (9–21)
FT%81% (13–16)67% (8–12)
Rebounds3239
Assists716
Turnovers99

Arizona was sharper from beyond the arc and controlled the boards, while BYU showed better free‑throw efficiency but struggled from three‑point range.


Big 12 Implications

  • Arizona (11–2): stays tied with Houston at the top, strengthening its case as a March Madness contender.
  • BYU (7–6): despite the loss, remains in the mix for postseason positioning but needs more consistency in key games.

📌 Conclusion

Arizona’s victory over BYU highlights the Wildcats’ strength at home and AJ Dybantsa’s ability to deliver elite performances. BYU fought hard, but Arizona’s depth and control in critical moments proved decisive. The Big 12 race remains heated, with Arizona and Houston battling for the top spot and teams like BYU striving to climb the standings as the season heads toward its final stretch.



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