Houston holds off Arizona to win Big 12 Conference title

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Houston (30-4) held off the Arizona Wildcats (22-12) with an 11-2 run down the stretch to win the championship game of the Big 12 Conference Tournament, 72-64, today in Kansas City.

The Wildcats didn't score a field goal in the final five minutes, and their chance of winning the tourney title slipped away. Arizona led at the end of the first half 33-28. Caleb Love led the Wildcats with 19 points, Jaden Bradley added 14, and KJ Lewis finished with 11.

Arizona made just five 3-pointers, and Houston canned nine of 23 from long range. Milos Uzan was the big gun for the Cougars with 25 points, including 8 of 16 from the field and 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.

The Wildcats played well in Kansas City. They finished the conference tournament with a 2-1 record, including wins over Kansas and Texas Tech.

And now it's on to the Big Dance next week. The Wildcats await Selection Sunday and look to grab anywhere from a 3, 4, or 5 seed for the tourney.