Arizona Wildcats Defeat Houston Cougars 73-66
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 3:00 PM ET · Fertitta Center
Arizona Wildcats 73, Houston Cougars 66, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Arizona Wildcats vs Houston Cougars?
Arizona Wildcats beat Houston Cougars 73-66 at Fertitta Center on February 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Arizona Wildcats vs Houston Cougars?
Houston Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -285 (about 74% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Arizona Wildcats emerged victorious against the Houston Cougars with a final score of 73-66 at the Fertitta Center. This victory marks Arizona's third consecutive win and improves their record to 26-2, while Houston's record falls to 23-5. The game showcased the competitive nature of both teams, with Arizona continuing to assert their dominance in the league.
Both teams entered this game with solid recent form. The Cougars had an 8-2 record in their last ten games, although they were coming off a loss to the Iowa State Cyclones on February 17, where they fell 67-70. Houston averaged 78.8 points scored and 64.2 points allowed over their last ten games, showing a strong offensive capability but also a vulnerability on defense. At home, they maintained a perfect record of 5-0 in their last five games prior to this matchup.
On the other hand, the Wildcats also held an 8-2 record in their last ten games, with their most recent victory coming against BYU, where they won 75-68 on February 19. Arizona averaged 82.3 points scored and 69.5 points allowed in their last ten games, reflecting a potent offensive attack and a slightly weaker defensive front compared to their opponents. They had a strong away record of 3-1 in their last four away games before facing Houston.
Historically, Arizona has had the upper hand in their recent meetings with Houston, winning both encounters in the previous season. The Wildcats won 72-64 at home and 62-58 in Houston, demonstrating their ability to perform well against the Cougars.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any significant player absences for either team, suggesting that both squads were at full strength for this important matchup.
Before the game, the betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had the Cougars favored by 6.5 points with a total set at 142.5. The odds indicated a strong belief in Houston's ability to secure a win at home, but the outcome proved otherwise.
The conditions at the Fertitta Center were typical for a late February evening, with a competitive atmosphere as fans gathered to support their teams. The game featured several key scoring plays that shifted momentum, particularly in the second half. Brayden Burries was instrumental for Arizona, making crucial free throws to extend their lead late in the game. Joseph Tugler's dunk and Milos Uzan's three-pointer kept Houston within striking distance, but ultimately, Arizona's free throw execution sealed the game.
As the game progressed, viewers were treated to a display of tactical basketball, with both teams employing strategies to exploit their opponents' weaknesses. The Wildcats' ability to capitalize on free throw opportunities, particularly in the closing minutes, was a decisive factor in their victory. The Cougars, despite their efforts, could not overcome the late-game surge from Arizona.
In conclusion, the Arizona Wildcats' victory over the Houston Cougars not only highlights their strong season but also sets the stage for an exciting finish to the regular season as both teams look to solidify their standings heading into the postseason.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | HOU -6.5 | 142.5 o -108 / u -112 | Arizona Wildcats +230 · Houston Cougars -285 |
Leaders
- PointsKingston Flemings17Houston Cougars
- AssistsKingston Flemings4Houston Cougars
- ReboundsChris Cenac Jr.13Houston Cougars
- PointsAnthony Dell'Orso22Arizona Wildcats
- AssistsJaden Bradley4Arizona Wildcats
- ReboundsIvan Kharchenkov9Arizona Wildcats
Recent form
Houston Cougars
Last 10: 8-2Streak L178.8 scored · 64.2 allowed per game5-0 at home
- L67-70at Iowa State CyclonesFeb 17
- W78-64vs Kansas State WildcatsFeb 14
- W66-52at Utah UtesFeb 11
- W77-66at BYU CougarsFeb 8
- W79-55vs UCF KnightsFeb 5
- W76-54vs Cincinnati BearcatsJan 31
- W79-70at TCU Horned FrogsJan 29
- L86-90at Texas Tech Red RaidersJan 24
- W103-73vs Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 18
- W77-48vs West Virginia MountaineersJan 14
Arizona Wildcats
Last 10: 8-2Streak W182.3 scored · 69.5 allowed per game3-1 away
- W75-68vs BYU CougarsFeb 19
- L75-78vs Texas Tech Red RaidersFeb 14
- L78-82at Kansas JayhawksFeb 10
- W84-47vs Oklahoma State CowboysFeb 7
- W87-74at Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 31
- W86-83at BYU CougarsJan 27
- W88-53vs West Virginia MountaineersJan 24
- W77-51vs Cincinnati BearcatsJan 22
- W84-77at UCF KnightsJan 17
- W89-82vs Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 36-3 | - | 16-2 |
| Houston | 30-7 | 2 | 14-4 |
| Iowa State | 29-8 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Kansas | 24-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Texas Tech | 23-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| TCU | 23-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| BYU | 23-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| UCF | 21-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| West Virginia | 21-14 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Cincinnati | 18-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Colorado | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Arizona State | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma State | 20-15 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Baylor | 17-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Kansas State | 12-20 | 13 | 3-15 |
| Utah | 10-22 | 14 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Arizona Wildcats | Houston Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-56 | 20-56 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 36 |
| Three-pointers | 3-12 | 8-26 |
| Three-point % | 25 | 31 |
| Free throws | 20-31 | 18-22 |
| Free throw % | 65 | 82 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 26 |
| Assists | 10 | 12 |
| Steals | 9 | 2 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 3 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 20 |
| Fouls | 19 | 24 |
| Largest lead | 10 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 91 | 4 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half41-39Ivan Kharchenkov makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-39Ivan Kharchenkov makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-41Kingston Flemings makes driving layup (Chris Cenac Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half42-44Milos Uzan makes 25-foot three point jumper (Joseph Tugler assists)
- 2nd Half44-44Ivan Kharchenkov makes driving layup (Jaden Bradley assists)
- 2nd Half44-46Kingston Flemings makes layup (Joseph Tugler assists)
- 2nd Half46-46Ivan Kharchenkov makes 12-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half46-48Chris Cenac Jr. makes 9-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half48-48Anthony Dell'Orso makes 10-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half48-49Emanuel Sharp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-50Emanuel Sharp makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-50Anthony Dell'Orso makes 25-foot three point jumper (Motiejus Krivas assists)
- 2nd Half52-50Brayden Burries makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-50Brayden Burries makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-50Anthony Dell'Orso makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-50Brayden Burries makes layup
- 2nd Half58-50Motiejus Krivas makes 2-foot dunk (Ivan Kharchenkov assists)
- 2nd Half60-50Jaden Bradley makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half60-51Emanuel Sharp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-52Emanuel Sharp makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-53Kalifa Sakho makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-54Kalifa Sakho makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-54Ivan Kharchenkov makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-57Kingston Flemings makes 26-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half63-57Jaden Bradley makes 14-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half64-57Jaden Bradley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-57Jaden Bradley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-59Joseph Tugler makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half66-59Jaden Bradley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-59Jaden Bradley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-60Kingston Flemings makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-61Kingston Flemings makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-61Brayden Burries makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-61Brayden Burries makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-63Joseph Tugler makes 3-foot dunk (Kingston Flemings assists)
- 2nd Half70-63Brayden Burries makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-66Milos Uzan makes 26-foot three point jumper (Joseph Tugler assists)
- 2nd Half71-66Jaden Bradley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-66Ivan Kharchenkov makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-66Ivan Kharchenkov makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Houston Cougars, below favours Arizona Wildcats.
Venue
- Fertitta CenterHouston, TX
- Attendance7887
- OfficialsRandy McCall, Gregory Nixon, Brooks Wells
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond