Key Points
- Freshman guard Brayden Burries tied his career high with 28 points to lead No. 1 Arizona to a 101–76 home win over Kansas State in Big 12 play.
- As reported by the Associated Press in multiple outlets, Burries shot 12-of-16 from the field, added nine rebounds and logged his fifth 20-point game of the season.
- Centre Motiejus Krivas delivered a career-high 25 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the paint and dominating the interior for Arizona.
- Arizona improved to 15–0 overall and 2–0 in Big 12 play, marking its best start since opening 21–0 in the 2013–14 season.
- No. 1 Arizona won its 10th consecutive game by at least 18 points, matching a long-standing margin-of-victory streak last reached by Michigan earlier this season.
- Forward Koa Peat added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Tobe Awaka contributed nine points and 11 boards.
- Arizona outrebounded Kansas State 55–32 and shot just under 50 percent from the field despite going only 3-of-16 from three-point range.
- Kansas State fell to 9–6 overall and 0–2 in the Big 12, shooting 33.8 percent overall and 8-of-36 from beyond the arc.
- PJ Haggerty led Kansas State with 19 points, with Nate Johnson adding 15 and Dorin Buca 12 in the defeat.
- Kansas State trimmed a 15-point half-time deficit to nine early in the second half before Arizona responded with decisive scoring runs to pull away.
- A 13–0 Arizona burst in the closing minutes, highlighted by back-to-back dunks from Burries and Peat and a corner three by Jaden Bradley, pushed the lead to 92–65.
- Burries scored 16 points in the first half alone as Arizona built a 20-point cushion before the interval.
- Arizona’s win keeps it atop the Big 12 standings in a tightly packed early-season race featuring several other highly ranked programmes.
- Kansas State will travel to face Arizona State in its next outing, while Arizona will play on the road at TCU.
No. 1 Arizona reinforced its status as the top team in men’s college basketball as Brayden Burries matched his career high with 28 points in a 101–76 rout of Kansas State, extending the Wildcats’ unbeaten start and underlining their dominance in the early Big 12 campaign. Backed by a career night from Motiejus Krivas and overwhelming control of the glass, Arizona turned a potentially tricky conference test into another statement victory in Tucson.
How did Brayden Burries take control of the game?
As reported by the Associated Press in a recap carried by Arizona’s official athletics site and national outlets, freshman guard Brayden Burries tied his career high by scoring 28 points, going 12-of-16 from the floor and adding nine rebounds in a powerful all-round display. Burries’ performance marked his fifth game of at least 20 points this season, underscoring his emergence as a primary scoring option for the nation’s top-ranked side.
The Associated Press detailed that Burries set the tone early, pouring in 16 points before half-time as Arizona quickly established a double-digit cushion. His ability to attack the rim, finish through contact and run the floor in transition repeatedly stretched Kansas State’s defence and helped Arizona maintain control whenever the visitors threatened a rally.
What role did Motiejus Krivas and the Arizona frontcourt play?
According to the Associated Press account reproduced by Arizona’s athletics department and syndicated to major sports platforms, centre Motiejus Krivas delivered a career-best 25 points while shooting 7-of-10 from the field and converting 11-of-13 free throws. Krivas also added 12 rebounds, giving him a dominant double-double that punished Kansas State on the interior at both ends of the court.
The same AP report highlighted that forward Koa Peat added 15 points and 10 rebounds, with Tobe Awaka contributing nine points and 11 boards as Arizona finished with a 55–32 rebounding advantage. That control of the glass limited Kansas State’s second-chance opportunities and repeatedly triggered transition chances, even though Arizona struggled from distance with a 3-of-16 mark from three-point range.
How did the game unfold from start to finish?
In describing the flow of the contest, the Associated Press noted that Arizona raced to a 10-point lead less than six minutes into the first half. The Wildcats continued to apply pressure on both ends, eventually building the margin to 20 points with just under three minutes remaining in the period, fuelled by Burries’ 16 first-half points and steady contributions from Krivas and Peat.
AP reporting explained that Kansas State, trailing 51–36 at the break, responded with a surge early in the second half, trimming the deficit to 58–49 after a three-pointer from Nate Johnson with just over 16 minutes left. Arizona, however, immediately countered with a 6–0 run to restore a double-digit gap and never allowed the visitors to get closer than 12 points the rest of the way, methodically reasserting control through half-court execution and interior scoring.
Which key runs defined Arizona’s decisive second half?
According to the AP game story carried by multiple outlets, the most emphatic sequence came late in the second half when Arizona unleashed a 13–0 run that effectively ended any remaining suspense. That burst, highlighted by back-to-back dunks from Burries and Koa Peat and capped by a corner three-pointer from guard Jaden Bradley, pushed the lead to 92–65 with around three and a half minutes to play.
The Associated Press analysis emphasised that each Kansas State push was met with a composed response from Arizona, whether through interior post-ups for Krivas, drives from Burries or second-chance put-backs from the frontcourt. By the closing minutes, the hosts were firmly in control, allowing coach and players to manage minutes and close out another lopsided conference victory in front of the home crowd.
How efficiently did Arizona play on offence despite three-point struggles?
As detailed by the Associated Press report, Arizona shot 49.3 percent from the field overall, a figure powered by relentless attacking of the paint and efficient finishing around the basket. That efficiency stood out even more given that the Wildcats connected on only three of their 16 attempts from beyond the arc, underscoring how little they needed perimeter shooting to dominate this particular match-up.
The same AP piece underlined that Burries’ 12-of-16 shooting performance and Krivas’ 7-of-10 night led the way, with the team repeatedly exploiting mismatches and size advantages near the rim. Arizona’s ability to generate high-percentage looks, draw fouls and convert at the line from their big men ensured that the overall offensive output remained high despite the off-night from long range.
How did Kansas State perform in the loss?
In the Associated Press account of the contest, Kansas State was cited as shooting 33.8 percent from the floor, going just 8-of-36 from three-point range in a game where perimeter accuracy was vital to offset Arizona’s size. PJ Haggerty led the visitors with 19 points on 8-of-20 shooting, while Nate Johnson added 15 points and Dorin Buca chipped in 12.
AP reporting further noted that Kansas State showed resilience by cutting the deficit to single digits early in the second half and making several smaller runs thereafter. However, the combination of cold three-point shooting, a severe rebounding deficit and difficulty containing Burries and Krivas inside left the Wildcats without enough answers to seriously threaten the upset in Tucson.
What is the broader significance of Arizona’s unbeaten start?
According to the Associated Press, Arizona’s victory over Kansas State lifted the team to 15–0 overall and 2–0 in the Big 12, marking its best season opening since beginning 21–0 in the 2013–14 campaign. The win also extended a remarkable streak of 10 consecutive victories by at least 18 points, a run AP contextualised by noting that Michigan achieved a similar margin-of-victory stretch earlier this season, tying one of the longest such sequences since the 2003–04 season.
The AP report highlighted that Arizona’s sustained dominance has kept it on top of a competitive Big 12 table that includes several top-25 opponents. By combining an explosive, balanced offence with physical rebounding and depth across positions, the Wildcats have positioned themselves as an early favourite not only in conference play but in the wider national title conversation.
What comes next for Arizona and Kansas State?
As reported by the Associated Press in its game recap, Kansas State will seek to regroup quickly with a trip to face Arizona State in its next conference outing. That contest offers coach and players an immediate opportunity to respond to the heavy defeat by addressing shooting inconsistencies and rebounding gaps against another high-tempo opponent.
The same AP piece noted that Arizona will head on the road to play TCU in its next fixture, another Big 12 test for the nation’s top-ranked side. With an unbeaten record, a series of runaway wins and rising contributions from key figures such as Burries, Krivas and Peat, Arizona enters that match-up looking to maintain momentum and extend one of the most impressive starts in recent programme history.