Houston Cougars Secure Big 12 Title with Victory Over Arizona

Kansas City, MO – The No. 1 seed Houston Cougars emerged victorious in the Big 12 Tournament, defeating the No. 3 seed Arizona Wildcats 72-64 on March 15, 2025. This win marks Houston’s first championship in the Big 12, achieved in just their second year in the conference.

Houston’s journey to the title included victories over No. 16 seed Colorado and No. 4 seed BYU, culminating in a dramatic finale against Arizona. The Cougars and Wildcats engaged in a tightly contested match, with Arizona holding a five-point lead at halftime.

However, the Cougars rallied after the break, fueled by a strong performance from guard Milos Uzan, who scored 17 of his career-high 25 points in the second half. Uzan’s efforts included four 3-pointers, shooting 8-of-16 from the field, helping Houston close the game on an 11-2 run.

“We knew we had to step up our game in the second half,” Uzan said. “It was all about execution and playing tough defense.”

Arizona’s offense sputtered late, as they failed to score a field goal in the final 5:32 of the game, contributing to their decline from a one-point lead to a loss by eight. The Wildcats missed seven of their last eight shots, struggling against Houston’s tenacious defense.

Houston Coach Kelvin Sampson praised his team’s resilience, adding, “We have a history of overcoming adversity. This tournament was no different.”

In their inaugural Big 12 season last year, the Cougars finished as runner-up before claiming both the regular season and tournament titles in the current season. With a 30-4 overall record, Houston solidifies its status as a contender for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

After the game, fans celebrated at the T-Mobile Center, where attendance reached 13,768. The Cougars’ win capped a successful run, exemplified by a steady escalation in performance throughout the tournament.

“Winning the Big 12 means a lot to our program,” Sampson added. “We’re proud to represent Houston and bring this trophy home.”

The Cougars will await their NCAA tournament seeding with hopes high for another deep run into March Madness.