WACO, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by precision over passing and individual brilliance over orchestrated offense, the No. [REDACTED] Arizona Wildcats weathered a persistent challenge from the Baylor Bears to secure an 87-80 victory in a Big 12 conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at the Ferrell Center.

The contest, played before a crowd of 7,126, was a statistical anomaly. Both teams finished with an identical 65 possessions, but Arizona’s superior efficiency proved decisive. The Wildcats posted an offensive rating of 134.0, fueled by a 49.2% shooting performance from the floor and an 18-for-23 night at the free-throw line. Baylor, despite shooting a slightly better percentage from the field at 49.2%, was less effective from deep, hitting only 7 of 22 three-point attempts, and finished with an offensive rating of 123.1.

The most striking figure of the night, however, was the assist column. In a display of isolation and one-on-one scoring, the two teams combined for only four total assists, two apiece. This underscored a game dominated by individual shot creation rather than ball movement.

Arizona improved to 26-2 overall and remained atop the Big 12 standings, while Baylor moved to an even 14-14.

The game’s narrative was one of Baylor building a lead and Arizona methodically dismantling it. The Bears, energized at home, controlled much of the first half. Behind the hot hand of Cameron Carr, who finished with a game-high 26 points, Baylor built a lead that stretched to seven points on multiple occasions. A Carr jump shot with 4:55 remaining in the half gave the Bears their largest advantage at 37-30. Arizona closed the gap slightly, but Baylor took a 41-34 lead into the locker room, having shot 51.7% in the opening period.

The second half belonged to Arizona’s backcourt duo. Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries took over the game, combining for 34 of Arizona’s 53 second-half points. Bradley, a guard from Rochester, New York, was particularly instrumental in the turnaround. He scored 19 of his 25 points after halftime, attacking the rim and hitting timely perimeter shots. His backcourt partner, Burries of San Bernardino, California, added 14 of his 24 points in the second half, showcasing a versatile scoring arsenal.

The Wildcats began the second half on a 15-5 run, seizing a 49-46 lead on a Motiejus Krivas jump shot with 15:52 to play. Krivas, the 7-foot-2 center from Lithuania, provided crucial interior presence with 12 points and a game-high four offensive rebounds.

Baylor refused to fade, with Carr and Isaac Williams, who had 16 points and five assists, answering nearly every Arizona push. The Bears tied the game at 55-55 on a Carr dunk with 11:56 remaining and again at 71-71 on an Obi Agbim three-pointer with 5:52 left.

The most important sequence of the game followed that tie. Arizona’s defense tightened, and its stars delivered. Over the next three minutes, the Wildcats engineered a decisive 10-2 run. It started with a Burries layup, included a critical three-pointer from Anthony Dell’Orso of Melbourne, Australia, and was capped by a Bradley jump shot assisted by Krivas, giving Arizona an 81-73 lead with 4:04 on the clock.

Baylor could not recover from that deficit. Every time the Bears scored, Arizona answered, often from the free-throw line where they were perfect in the final minutes. Bradley and Burries closed the game by making four consecutive free throws in the final second to seal the seven-point victory.

Beyond the starring guards, Arizona received key contributions from its international contingent. Ivan Kharchenkov of Munich, Germany, facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists to go with eight points, while Dell’Orso chipped in eight points. Tobe Awaka provided physicality off the bench with 10 points. For Baylor, Agbim scored eight points and Caden Powell of Waco added six points and two assists.

The game’s efficiency metrics told the final story. Arizona’s ability to score 1.34 points per possession, coupled with a 13-9 advantage in offensive rebounds and a near-flawless performance from the charity stripe late, allowed them to overcome a Baylor team that led for over 17 minutes of game time. The Wildcats’ second-half offensive explosion, shooting 53.8% from the field and outscoring Baylor by 14 points, was the ultimate difference in a hard-fought road victory.

Arizona, which entered as a 10-point favorite according to sportsbooks, next hosts Kansas on Saturday. Baylor travels to face UCF on the same day. The total score of 167 points surpassed the over/under line of 151.5.