Updated March 12, 2026
Iowa State and Arizona meet again on Friday night in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, setting up a huge rematch between two national title contenders. Arizona claimed the regular-season meeting between these teams earlier this month, but Iowa State has surged through the tournament bracket with dominant performances. With both teams ranked among the nation’s best and playing for a spot in the conference championship game, this Iowa State vs Arizona contest carries major weight for postseason momentum and seeding.
Arizona enters the semifinal as the conference’s top seed and one of the most consistent teams in the country. The Wildcats improved to 30-2 with a convincing 81-59 win over UCF in the quarterfinal round. Arizona jumped out early and never trailed, demonstrating the offensive depth that has carried the team throughout the season. Freshman guard Brayden Burries led the way with 21 points while Tobe Awaka recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Iowa State has been equally impressive in Kansas City. The Cyclones dominated Arizona State by 49 points earlier in the tournament and followed that up with a convincing 75-53 victory over Texas Tech. Iowa State’s defense forced turnovers and limited opponents to poor shooting, while the offense continued to get balanced scoring from multiple players. Senior guard Tamin Lipsey scored 20 points in the Texas Tech win, while Joshua Jefferson added a double-double.
The biggest storyline heading into Friday’s game is the rematch factor. Arizona defeated Iowa State 73-57 earlier this month to clinch the Big 12 regular-season title. The Wildcats controlled that game from start to finish, limiting the Cyclones’ offense and winning the rebounding battle. Iowa State will look to flip that script by leaning on its defense and improved offensive rhythm.
Arizona Wildcats
Iowa State Cyclones
Stat | Iowa State | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 82.1 | 86.7 |
Points allowed per game | 64.6 | 68.3 |
Team Field Goal % | 49% | 50% |
Rebounds per game | 35.6 | 43.0 |
Assists per game | 17.4 | 17.4 |
Past meetings this season
ATS records this season
This semifinal features two highly balanced teams with elite talent on both sides of the court. Iowa State’s defense can create problems with its ability to force turnovers and pressure opposing guards, but Arizona’s offensive depth has proven difficult for opponents to contain.
The Wildcats already demonstrated their ability to control this matchup earlier in March by limiting Iowa State’s perimeter scoring and winning the battle inside. With Burries providing explosive scoring and Awaka dominating the glass, Arizona has several advantages in this rematch. My expectation is that Arizona will use those advantages to get a win to advance to the Big 12 title game.
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