Top-seeded Arizona shakes off slow start, dominates No. 2 Purdue to advance to Final Four

Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News on Mar 28, 2026

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — There was no denying Purdue’s effort.

Playing against a team that is loaded with NBA draft prospects, the Boilermakers scrapped for rebounds, dived for loose balls and did all the little things to make up for the talent gap. Their offense got clean looks and the Indiana school even held a lead early in the game.

But on Saturday night, all that wasn’t enough.

After a slow start, Arizona found its rhythm and never let go of the rope as the Wildcats punched their ticket to the Final Four with a 79-64 win over No. 2 Purdue. Arizona will play the winner of tomorrow’s Michigan-Tennesse game in Houston next Saturday.

Freshman Koa Peat led Arizona with 20 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Ivan Kharchenkov had 18 and senior point guard Jaden Bradley had 14. Freshman star Brayden Burries struggled from the field, scoring 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting, but played 33 minutes in a solid defensive showing.

Arizona will be making its fifth Final Four appearance and first since 2001.

Purdue senior Braden Smith scored 13 points and Oscar Cluff had 14.

After trailing by seven at halftime, Arizona found its groove early in the second half.

The Wildcats outscored the Boilermakers 19-7 through the first eight minutes led by senior point guard Bradley. Bradley was a catalyst on both ends of the floor, controlling the pace for the Wildcats as their main playmaker. On defense, Bradley drew the assignment of containing Smith, who torched Arizona in the first half.

And once Arizona retook control of the lead, the Wildcats never gave it back.

Arizona led for much of the early minutes, but Purdue’s shot making and stingy defense flipped the script.

The Boilermakers closed the first half with a 13-4 run that gave them a 38-31 lead at halftime.

Purdue shut down Burries through the first 20 minutes. After the freshman star knocked in a 3-pointer to open Saturday’s scoring, he was held scoreless for the rest of the first half as he shot 1 for 5 and turned the ball over twice.

Meanwhile, Purdue’s offense stayed consistent behind 11 points and four assists from star point guard Braden Smith.

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