No. 1 Arizona beats Arizona State for best start in school history

Field Level Media|published: Sat 31st January, 16:47 2026

Jan 31, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Tobe Awaka (30) drives to the basket against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first half at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Koa Peat scored 15 of his 21 points after halftime as top-ranked Arizona pulled away in the second half and maintained its perfect start with an 87-74 victory over host Arizona State on Saturday afternoon in Tempe.

Arizona (22-0, 9-0 Big 12) surpassed the 2013-14 team featuring All-American Nick Johnson, Aaron Gordon and T.J. McConnell for the best start in school history. The Wildcats also matched the program record for the longest winning streak, equaling the mark set during the 1914-17 seasons.

Arizona also tied the Big 12 record for the longest winning streak to start a season, equaling Kansas in 1996-97.

Peat shot 9-of-16 and finished with at least 20 for the fourth time this season and second time against Arizona State.

Brayden Burries added 17 and seven rebounds as the Wildcats outscored the Sun Devils (11-11, 2-7) 49-36 after halftime. Motiejus Krivas contributed 11 of his 15 points during the evenly-played first half and Ivan Kharchenkov contributed 12 for Arizona.

Jaden Bradley chipped in 10 and Tobe Awaka pulled down 13 rebounds to help Arizona finish with a 47-32 rebounding edge.

Arizona shot 60% in the final 20 minutes and 50.8% overall. The Wildcats also converted 20 layups and dunks as part of a 50-point showing in the paint.

Reserve Noah Meeusen paced Arizona State with 16 points and leading scorer Maurice Odum was held to 15 on 6-of-16 shooting while getting into foul trouble when Arizona surged ahead.

The Sun Devils shot 41.5% and lost for the fifth time in six games.

Arizona scored eight straight points in a little over two minutes for a 25-18 lead on Peat's dunk with 7:05 left in the first half. The Sun Devils countered by outscoring the Wildcats 20-13 the rest of the half and Meeusen's 3 with two seconds left forged a 38-38 deadlock by halftime.

Arizona scored six straight after halftime for a 44-38 lead on a jumper by Krivas a little over two minutes and a 56-47 edge when Burries connected with Peat for a dunk with 13:10 remaining.

Anthony Johnson hit a corner 3 to get the Sun Devils within 56-53 with 11:41 left but the Wildcats scored the next seven for a 63-53 lead on a sweeping layup by Awaka a little over a minute later.

Arizona finished things off by making five of six shots for a 77-64 lead on a drive by Kharchenkov with 3:26 left.

--Field Level Media