The No. 1 Arizona Wildcats opened conference play with a 97-78 romping at Utah on Saturday.
The Wildcats (14-0) remain just one of six teams in the nation still undefeated and one of just two teams in the Big 12 (Iowa State).
Five Wildcats players scored in double-figures, marking the ninth straight game at least five have reached double figures.
Arizona was led by 18 each from Tobe Awaka and Jaden Bradley, and freshman Brayden Burries had his first career double-double.
In addition to a career-high points total, Awaka added 12 rebounds for his 13th career double-double. Entering Saturday, when he is on the court, he grabs 28.3% of available rebounds (the best in the nation).
Awaka made two 3-pointers. He entered just 3-for-8 in his 119-game career from 3.
Tobe from the top of the key … again pic.twitter.com/FKMatA2xes
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) January 3, 2026
Arizona entered 342nd in attempted 3s per game out of the 361 teams in Division 1 but had six different players hit from deep.
Koa Peat made just his second 3-pointer of the season. The five-star freshman finished with 17 points on 8 of 14 shooting.
Following up his first career double-double in Monday’s win, Jaden Bradley had another strong performance, finishing with five assists and four rebounds to go along with his 17 points.
Burries ended his afternoon with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Ivan Kharchenkov added 13 points, his seventh straight game in double figures.
After Utah scored the first basket, Arizona went on a 14-0 run and never looked back, building a lead as large as 24.
Utah had five early turnovers, which Arizona punished to help build its early lead.
Utah cut Arizona’s lead to nine as Arizona went 3:03 without a field goal and missed some high-quality looks.
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After Utah trimmed Arizona’s lead to eight with six minutes left in the first half, Arizona answered with a 10-0 run.
The Wildcats continued to get great looks and ended the first half by making their last six field goals. Arizona took a 58-39 lead into the half, shooting 61.1% from the field.
The 58 points Arizona scored are not only a season-high for points in a half but the most in a first half of a conference game since scoring 63 in the first half against Arizona State in 1998.
After Arizona took its biggest lead, a 70-46 advantage with just under 14 minutes left in the second half, Utah scored eight straight to trim Arizona’s lead to 16 points before an and-one from Awaka and subsequent 3 from Dwayne Aristode created more separation.
Arizona will return to McKale Center for a midweek matchup against Kansas State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on FS1.
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