who did arizona lose to

February 15, 2026

Arizona's Latest Loss: No. 1 Wildcats Fall to No. 9 Kansas No. 1 Arizona suffered its first defeat of the 2025-26 men's basketball season, losing 82-78 to No. 9 Kansas on February 9, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. This thrilling Big 12 matchup ended Arizona's 23-game winning streak—second- longest in Division I at the time—snapping their undefeated run just weeks before the regular season's end.

Game Highlights

Arizona controlled much of the contest, leading 45-42 at halftime and building an 11-point edge early in the second half with strong paint play and efficient shooting (44% from the field, 40% from three). Kansas rallied behind Flory Bidunga and Melvin Council Jr. , each scoring 23 points, while dominating free throws (21-of-25 vs. Arizona's 8-of-14) and grabbing key second-chance rebounds. The Wildcats' bench outscored Kansas 14-4, but late cold shooting and turnovers sealed the upset.

Key Performances

Standout efforts defined the high-stakes clash:

Player (Team)| Points| Rebounds| Other Stats
---|---|---|---
Brayden Burries (AZ)| 25| -| 4/8 3PTs 1
Motiejus Krivas (AZ)| 14| 15| 6 blocks, double-double 15
Ivan Kharchenkov (AZ)| 13| -| Efficient scoring 1
Flory Bidunga (KU)| 23| 10+| Double-double 3
Melvin Council Jr. (KU)| 23| -| Rally leader 1

Trending Context and Fan Buzz

This loss sparked widespread discussion across sports forums and media, trending as a marquee upset with Arizona (23-1, 10-1 Big 12) still atop polls but now vulnerable. Fans noted Kansas' home energy and Arizona's road struggles, with podcasts like Bear Down Ballers recapping it as a "wake-up call" before today's (Feb. 14) home clash vs. No. 16 Texas Tech at 4:30 PM MST. Miami (Ohio) remains the lone undefeated team at 24-0 post-loss.

"Arizona's first loss came over two months in—crazy late in the season!" – Bear Down Ballers podcast

What's Next?

Arizona rebounds today against Texas Tech, aiming to regain momentum with home-court fire ahead of a Feb. 28 rematch in Tucson. Expect motivated Wildcats after this gritty battle showcased their depth despite the heartbreak.

TL;DR: Arizona lost 82-78 to Kansas on Feb. 9, ending their perfect streak in a second-half thriller.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.