Arizona Wildcats Dominate Cincinnati Bearcats To Stay Unbeaten

The McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona, was alive with anticipation on the night of January 21, 2026, as the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats hosted the Cincinnati Bearcats in a Big 12 showdown. The Wildcats, riding an unblemished 18-0 record and sitting atop the AP poll for the first time in school history, faced a Cincinnati squad fresh off a statement win over No. 2 Iowa State. With both teams eyeing crucial midseason momentum, the stakes were high and the action did not disappoint.

Arizona entered the contest as heavy favorites, boasting a -1300 moneyline and a 13.5-point spread advantage. Their offense had been nothing short of electric, averaging over 90 points per game, but it was their suffocating defense—ranked inside the nation’s top five in adjusted defensive efficiency—that set the tone on Wednesday night. Cincinnati, meanwhile, was looking to shake off their road woes and build on their NCAA Tournament resume, but the task was daunting: the Bearcats had not yet won a game away from home this season and ranked outside the top 180 nationally in offensive efficiency.

From the opening tip, Arizona’s defensive prowess was on full display. The Bearcats managed to seize a 20-16 lead midway through a rugged first half, fueled by a 14-1 run that momentarily hushed the home crowd. Baba Miller, Cincinnati’s 6-foot-11 senior forward and glass-cleaning machine, led the early charge and would finish with a team-high 14 points. But Arizona regrouped quickly. Motiejus Krivas, the Wildcats’ towering 7-foot-2 forward, anchored the paint with 8 first-half points, 5 rebounds, and a block, helping Arizona reclaim the lead and head into halftime up 33-27 despite shooting just 36.7%—their poorest half at home since last season’s loss to Houston.

“There are going to be nights when the shooting isn’t there,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd remarked after the game, echoing the sentiment of many Wildcats fans. “As long as the defensive effort remains consistent, though, the wins will keep coming.” And come they did. Arizona held Cincinnati to a mere 30.4% shooting for the game, including just 19% from beyond the arc, and forced 14 Bearcats turnovers that led to 17 points on the other end.

The second half belonged entirely to Arizona. The Bearcats briefly closed the gap to just two points on a couple of occasions, but the Wildcats unleashed a relentless 20-4 run over nearly 10 minutes, methodically stretching their advantage to 58-44 with just over six minutes remaining. Arizona’s dominance in the paint was staggering, outscoring Cincinnati 48-14 in that area and finishing with a plus-13 edge on the boards. Krivas continued his strong play, ending the night with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and nine rebounds. Freshman sensation Koa Peat, who had averaged just under 15 points per game on the season, chipped in 13 points and six rebounds, bouncing back from a quiet previous outing.

Brayden Burries, another standout freshman and projected NBA lottery pick, recorded his second career double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Ivan Kharchenkov added 14 points, and Jaden Bradley contributed across the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, and four assists. Arizona’s balanced attack and tenacious rebounding proved too much for a Cincinnati team that simply couldn’t find its rhythm. The Bearcats, who had hoped to become the first team since Kansas in 1989-90 to knock off the No. 2 and No. 1 teams in consecutive games, were stymied by the Wildcats’ size and discipline.

Cincinnati’s offense, which had been a concern all season, sputtered under the weight of Arizona’s pressure. The Bearcats shot just 17-of-56 from the field and committed 14 turnovers. Shon Abaev added 13 points off the bench, but the supporting cast struggled to generate consistent scoring. The Wildcats’ defense, led by the imposing frontcourt duo of Krivas and Kharchenkov, shut down driving lanes and forced Cincinnati into tough, contested looks. Even when Arizona’s own shooting lagged—42.9% for the game, tied for their second-lowest mark of the season—their ability to control the paint and dominate the glass made all the difference.

One emotional subplot was the return of Cincinnati guard Kerr Kriisa, who played his first three college seasons at Arizona before transferring. Kriisa had missed the Bearcats’ previous four games with an upper body injury and saw just one minute of action in a reserve role, but his return was acknowledged with a warm pregame video tribute from the Wildcats. “It was great to see Kerr back on this floor,” Coach Lloyd said. “He’s a competitor, and we have a lot of respect for what he did here.”

As the final buzzer sounded, Arizona walked off the court with a commanding 77-51 victory, improving to 19-0 overall and 6-0 in Big 12 play. The win cemented their status as one of only three undefeated teams remaining in Division I basketball and marked a new high point in the program’s storied history. The Wildcats’ attention now turns to a Saturday home matchup against West Virginia, while Cincinnati faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Arizona State.

For the Bearcats, the loss was a sobering reminder of the work ahead as they continue their conference slate. Head coach Wes Miller, now in his fifth season, will look to regroup his squad after a tough road defeat. “We knew this would be a challenge,” Miller admitted. “Arizona is No. 1 for a reason. But we’ll learn from this and get better.”

Arizona’s blend of youth and experience, along with their elite defense and rebounding, continues to fuel their march through the Big 12. With Koa Peat and Brayden Burries leading a talented freshman class and veterans like Krivas and Bradley providing stability, the Wildcats look every bit the national title contender their ranking suggests. The road ahead won’t get any easier, but for now, the Wildcats remain perfect—and the rest of college basketball is officially on notice.