Arizona 109-88 Sweet 16 Win Sets Scoring Record
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- Arizona posted a 109-88 win over Arkansas in the Sweet 16, advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2015.
- Arizona became the first NCAA tournament team with six players scoring at least 14 points in a single game.
- Arizona shot 64% from the field (37-of-58), the highest percentage for a Sweet 16 or later team since Villanova's 71% in the 2016 Final Four.
- Brayden Burries and Koa Peat each tallied 21 points, while Ivan Kharchenkov added 15 and three teammates—Jaden Bradley, Motiejus Krivas, and Tobe Awaka—each contributed 14 points.
- Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored 28 points, yet the team was hampered by technical fouls to Coach John Calipari and Nick Pringle and an ejection of Billy Richmond after a flagrant 2 foul.
- Coach Tommy Lloyd praised the offensive rhythm but warned it must be recreated against second‑seeded Purdue in the West Region final.
- John Calipari recorded his largest NCAA tournament loss (21 points) in his 85th tournament appearance.
Why it matters: Arizona's historic offensive balance and record‑setting shooting efficiency secure a rare Elite Eight berth, reviving a program that has not reached the Final Four since 2001, while Arkansas endures its biggest tournament loss under Calipari, underscoring how costly technical fouls and a lack of supporting scoring can derail a promising run.
