OVIEDO, Fla. (Interstat) — In a hostile environment against a formidable conference challenger, the Arizona Wildcats leaned on their poise and offensive efficiency to protect their perfect record.

Jaden Bradley scored 23 points and Arizona made critical plays down the stretch to fend off a relentless UCF team 84-77 in a Big 12 men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon before a sellout crowd of 10,000 at CFE Arena.

The Wildcats, one of the nation’s last remaining undefeated teams, improved to 18-0 overall. UCF, which had won five of its last six, fell to 14-3.

The most important part of the game arrived in the final minutes, as Arizona transformed a narrow contest into a two-possession victory. Leading 73-70 with under a minute to play, the Wildcats sealed the win at the free-throw line. Bradley, the steadying force all afternoon, was fouled and calmly sank two free throws with 57 seconds left. After UCF’s Themus Fulks split a pair at the other end, Arizona’s Brayden Burries drilled a crucial three-pointer from the wing with 3:59 remaining, pushing the lead to 76-71 and forcing a Knights timeout. UCF would get no closer than five points the rest of the way as Arizona closed it out by making eight of its final ten free throws.

The game was a battle of contrasting styles. Arizona won with precision, shooting 52.7% from the field while holding UCF to 40%. The Wildcats scored 36 points in the paint and capitalized on transition opportunities, outscoring UCF 21-10 in fastbreak points. UCF, however, stayed competitive through sheer volume and effort, attempting 15 more field goals and grabbing 12 offensive rebounds to create extra chances.

Bradley, a guard from Rochester, New York, added five assists to his team-high 23 points, orchestrating the Arizona offense and repeatedly answering UCF runs with timely baskets. He was supported by a balanced attack: freshman Brayden Burries scored 18 points, 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas added 17 points and nine rebounds, and Ivan Kharchenkov contributed 10 points.

UCF was carried by the spectacular individual effort of guard Themus Fulks. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina, native poured in a game-high 30 points and dished out eight assists, keeping the Knights within striking distance throughout the night. Jordan Burks added 16 points for UCF, and Riley Kugel finished with 12.

Arizona led 41-38 at halftime in a tightly contested opening period. The Wildcats built several small leads, but Fulks and the Knights consistently responded, with Fulks hitting a deep three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to cut the deficit to three.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Every time Arizona threatened to pull away, UCF would mount a counterpunch, often fueled by Fulks’ creativity. A driving layup by Fulks brought UCF within 68-66 with just over two minutes to play, setting the stage for Arizona’s decisive final push.

Despite the loss, UCF showcased its credentials as a tough out in its new conference, forcing 12 Arizona turnovers and converting them into 16 points. Arizona’s experience and offensive firepower, however, proved to be the difference as they navigated the final minutes without a field goal, relying on defensive stops and clutch free-throw shooting to escape.

Arizona entered the game as a 9.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, narrowly covering the spread. The combined score of 161 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 163.5. National statistical models gave the Wildcats a 78% probability of victory prior to tip-off.

The win extends Arizona’s best start in years as they continue a demanding conference schedule. UCF, meanwhile, demonstrated it can compete with the league’s elite but will rue missed opportunities in a game they led briefly in the second half.

Arizona returns home to face Cincinnati on Wednesday. UCF travels to face Iowa State on Tuesday.