Bradley’s Buzzer-Beater Sends Arizona to Big 12 Title Game!

Bradley’s Heroics Seal Arizona’s Big 12 Championship Berth

The Big 12 tournament delivered a Friday night thriller as Arizona, the No. 1 seed, narrowly escaped a fierce challenge from No. 5 seed Iowa State, ultimately winning on a dramatic last-second buzzer-beater by Jaden Bradley. The electrifying 80-79 victory sends the Wildcats to the Big 12 Championship game, marking the first game-winning buzzer-beater for Arizona in the tournament since 2015.

Clutch Performance in a Nail-Biter

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging blows in the second half. Iowa State, who had led by double digits at one point, saw their lead evaporate as Arizona’s dynamic duo of Anthony Delorso and Milan Momchilovich went shot-for-shot. Delorso poured in 26 points, including six triples, while Momchilovich led all scorers with 28 points and a remarkable eight made three-pointers. The intense scoring duel kept the tension high, with the game tied at 80 in the final seconds.

Bradley Time in Clutch Moments

Enter Jaden Bradley. When the pressure mounted, Bradley delivered. He finished the game with an astonishing 41 points in 46 minutes of play, a testament to his clutch performance. His final act was a deep three-pointer that sealed the victory for Arizona, sending his teammates into a frenzy and the crowd into a roar. Arizona head coach TJ Osenberger praised Bradley’s “winning player” mentality and “fierce competitor” spirit.

Houston Dominates Kansas to Reach Final

In the other Big 12 semifinal, No. 3 seed Houston showcased their defensive prowess in a commanding 69-47 victory over No. 2 seed Kansas. The Cougars controlled the game from start to finish, building an insurmountable lead. Key performances included 17 points and 14 rebounds from Chris “Snacks” Silva Jr., and 14 points from D.J. Davis. Kansas struggled offensively, shooting a dismal 25% from the field, marking their first loss by 20 or more points in Big 12 tournament history and their lowest scoring output in the event.

ACC Championship Preview: Duke vs. Virginia Rematch

The ACC tournament is also heating up, with No. 1 seed Duke set to face No. 2 seed Virginia in the championship game. Duke, led by the dominant Boozer brothers, Cam and Cayden, comfortably defeated No. 5 seed Clemson 73-61. Cam Boozer recorded his 19th double-double of the season with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Cayden contributed 16 points, including a career-high in scoring. Virginia, meanwhile, took care of business against No. 3 seed Miami, winning 84-62. Despite losing to Duke by 26 points earlier in the season, Virginia now has a chance for revenge in the ACC title game.

SEC Tournament: Mississippi and Arkansas Advance

The SEC tournament saw No. 15 seed Mississippi continue their Cinderella run by upsetting Alabama 80-79 on a last-second shot. They will face No. 3 seed Arkansas in the semifinals. Arkansas survived a thrilling contest against No. 11 seed Oklahoma, winning 82-79. Darius Aubry was spectacular for the Razorbacks, scoring 37 points, the most in an SEC tournament game since 2010. However, a missed free throw opened the door for Oklahoma to potentially tie, but they fell short.

Florida Secures SEC Final Spot

In the other SEC semifinal, No. 1 seed Florida extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 71-63 victory over No. 9 seed Kentucky. Alex Condan led the Gators with 22 points, while Denzel Aberdeenie added 17, with 13 coming in the second half. Despite a late push from Kentucky, Florida’s consistent scoring, particularly from Xavian Lee, secured their spot in the championship game for the third consecutive season.

Expert Analysis on Championship Matchups

Seth Greenberg, joining from Kansas City, provided insights into the upcoming championship games. Regarding Virginia’s chances against Duke, he emphasized the need for the Cavaliers to be the aggressor, attack the basket, and get Duke into foul trouble, especially with Duke missing key players Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Caleb Foster. For the Big 12 Championship between Houston and Arizona, Greenberg highlighted Houston’s need to return to their defensive identity, forcing turnovers and creating offense in transition. He also pointed out Arizona’s depth, referring to them as having “seven starters,” with significant contributions from players like Delorso and Toby Awaka coming off the bench.

The stage is set for thrilling conference championship games across college basketball, with upsets, buzzer-beaters, and rematches promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament season.

Source: Men's basketball tournament recap 🏀 Upsets, blowouts & championship talk 😤 | SportsCenter (YouTube)