Kansas edged out Central Florida in a thrilling 98-94 overtime victory on Wednesday night, securing a spot in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals. The Jayhawks now prepare for a rematch against Arizona, whom they defeated 83-76 during their Senior Day clash on Saturday. Arizona, benefiting from a double bye, enters fresh into the quarterfinals.
Hunter Dickinson and Zeke Mayo Shine for Kansas
After his dominant 33-point performance against Arizona over the weekend, Kansas center Hunter Dickinson followed up with another impressive showing, tallying 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. He also pulled down 13 rebounds. Guard Zeke Mayo stepped up with a game-high 24 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from three-point range, while also adding eight rebounds. Mayo had also scored 20 points in the previous meeting against Arizona.
The Jayhawks also received strong contributions from A.J. Storr, who scored 19 points, and K.J. Adams, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Adams had registered 12 points and eight boards against Arizona on Saturday, while Storr was held scoreless in that game.
Kansas led by as many as 13 points, holding a 61-48 advantage with 13:27 remaining, but Central Florida mounted a comeback to force overtime.
Keyshawn Hall and Darius Johnson Propel UCF’s Rally
Central Florida fought hard behind standout performances from Keyshawn Hall, who posted 25 points, and Darius Johnson, who added 22 before fouling out. The Knights caught fire from beyond the arc, making 14-of-33 three-pointers, including an impressive 8-of-15 in the second half. Kansas, meanwhile, connected on 12-of-27 from long range.
Arizona, Kansas’ upcoming opponent, shot a respectable 6-of-16 from three-point range in their previous meeting at Allen Fieldhouse.
Arizona vs. Kansas: Betting Odds and History
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Arizona enters the matchup as a slight 1.5-point favorite. The Wildcats are listed at -125 on the money line, while Kansas sits at +104. The over/under for the game is set at 150.5 points.
Kansas leads the all-time series against Arizona with a 9-4 record. The two programs have split their four neutral-site meetings. Notable past encounters include Kansas’ NCAA Tournament victories over Arizona in 1996 (Denver) and 2003 (Anaheim), while Arizona secured wins in the 1997 NCAA Tournament (Birmingham) and the 2005 Maui Invitational.
How to Watch Arizona vs. Kansas
The quarterfinal showdown between Arizona and Kansas is set to tip off at 6:30 PM Mountain Standard Time on ESPN2. The game will be called by either the announcing crew of Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla, and Kris Budden or the team of Roxy Bernstein, King McClure, and Sean Farnham.
The winner of this highly anticipated matchup will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for Friday at 6:30 PM MST.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Big 12 Tournament action unfolds!
