Arizona completed the season sweep of Big 12 championships with a 79-74 win over No. 2 seed Houston in the title game Saturday night at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Behind another composed, veteran performance from tournament Most Outstanding Player Jaden Bradley (6'3''-G-2003), the Wildcats (32–2) built a 15-point second-half lead and held off a furious Houston rally to secure the program's first Big 12 Tournament championship. Bradley finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists, and once again dictated Arizona's pace late as Houston tried to climb back into the game.
Freshman Koa Peat (6'8''-F-2007) delivered one of the best outings of his young career, posting 21 points and six rebounds, including several tough finishes inside and critical free throws that helped Arizona maintain control. The Wildcats also got a major boost from fellow freshman Brayden Burries (6'4''-G), who scored 21 points and hit two momentum-swinging threes in the first half before calmly sealing the game at the line in the final seconds.
Burries and Peat are the first pair of freshmen to both score 20 or more points in the Big 12 Championship game.
Arizona's depth and balance proved decisive. Ivan Kharchenkov (6'7''-F-2006) added 12 points and seven rebounds, providing key scoring in the second half and repeatedly answering Houston buckets with timely drives and perimeter shooting. Motiejus Krivas (7'2''-C-2004) finished with six points and six rebounds, while Tobe Awaka (6'8''-F-2004) gave the Wildcats physical minutes off the bench, grabbing five boards.
Arizona controlled the first half, shooting 50 percent from the field and closing on a 12–3 run punctuated by Burries' late scoring burst to take a 44–36 lead into the locker room. The Wildcats extended the margin to 15 early in the second half and appeared on the verge of breaking the game open.
But Houston surged back behind Joseph Tugler (6'8''-F-2005), who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Mercy Miller (6'4''-G), who poured in 13 points and hit several clutch shots during a 14–2 Cougar run that cut Arizona's lead to 62–60 with just under seven minutes remaining.
From there, Arizona's composure carried the night. Burries answered with a floater and a pair of free throws. Ivan Kharchenkov attacked the rim for two more, and Peat added a second-chance basket before knocking down four late free throws. Krivas iced the game at the stripe with 22 seconds left, stretching the lead back to five.
Houston cut the margin to three one final time on a transition three with 52 seconds left, but Arizona's defense forced a miss on the next possession, and Burries calmly hit two free throws with eight seconds remaining to lock down the championship.
Arizona finished the game shooting 46 percent from the field and an impressive 23-for-27 from the free-throw line, showcasing the poise that carried it through three straight tournament wins.
Jaden Bradley was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament and Brayden Burries joined him on the All-Tournament team.

Courtesy of big12sports.com

Final:
Arizona - Houston 79-74

Semis:
Arizona - Iowa State 82-80
Houston - Kansas 69-47