In one of the most dramatic nights of the 2025-26 college basketball season, the No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks stunned the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats, handing them their first loss of the year with an 82–78 victory at Allen Fieldhouse on Monday. Arizona entered the matchup undefeated, riding a program-best 23-0 start and atop the AP Poll, but Kansas’ unrelenting second-half rally flipped the script in front of a raucous home crowd.
The result was even more remarkable because Kansas did it without their best player, freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who was a late scratch with flu-like symptoms and missed the marquee matchup. Peterson, a projected No. 1 pick in next summer’s NBA Draft and one of the nation’s most electric scorers, had been a catalyst all season. His absence left a void in Kansas’ offense, but it forced others to step up in a big way.
Leading the charge was senior forward Flory Bidunga, who recorded a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double and made key plays down the stretch. Melvin Council Jr. matched Bidunga’s offensive punch with 23 points of his own, including clutch free throws in the final minute that helped seal the upset. Bryson Tiller also delivered a strong performance with 18 points, rounding out a balanced scoring effort that ultimately overwhelmed Arizona’s defense.
For much of the first half, however, it was Arizona in control. The Wildcats held an 11-point lead early in the second half and carried a tight advantage into intermission thanks to an efficient offensive night from Brayden Burries, who led Arizona with 25 points. Motiejus Krivas provided a monster stat line—14 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks—but Arizona’s offense sputtered at times in crunch time, and free-throw struggles late in the contest proved costly.
Kansas’ comeback was emblematic of their resilience this season. Prior to this game, the Jayhawks had never beaten a No. 1 team at Allen Fieldhouse, falling short in five previous attempts. On Monday, they erased that narrative with a decisive 25-9 surge midway through the second half, transforming a double-digit deficit into a lead they would not relinquish.
With this signature win, Kansas not only hands Arizona its first loss but boosts its own momentum as the Big 12 race heats up. The Jayhawks will look to build on this breakthrough as they continue conference play, while Arizona regroups after a season-defining defeat.
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