NCAA Tournament: Arizona rallies from halftime deficit to beat Purdue, reach 1st Final Four since 2001
Mar 28, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) reacts in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers during an Elite Eight game of the West Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images SAN JOSE—Ahead of playing in the Sweet 16, where Arizona had lost four straight times, Ivan Kharchenkov said he doesn’t believe in curses. Why would he, since they no longer apply in Wildcat Country.
The UA is headed to its first Final Four since 2001 after beating Purdue 79-64 in the West Region finals on Saturday night. Arizona (36-2) will face either Michigan or Tennessee in the national semifinals on April 4 in Indianapolis. Koa Peat had 20 points, breaking Mike Bibby’s school freshman record for an Elite Eight game, Ivan Kharchenkov had 18 points and eight rebounds and both Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries added 14 for the Wildcats, which trailed by seven at halftime but took the lead for good with 14:34 to go.
The 7-point halftime hole was the biggest Arizona has faced in an NCAA Tournament game and won. Purdue (30-9) hit seven 3-pointers in the first half but was just 1 of 8 in the second half, shooting 32. 1 percent overall after halftime and 38.
1 percent for the game. Arizona was 46. 6 percent for the game and 51.
6 percent in the second half, also making 20 of 22 free throws and outscoring the Boilermakers 40-24 in the paint. The UA trailed 38-31 at halftime, getting outscored 26-12 over the final 12-plus minutes of the first half. Arizona started to get foul pressure and began to run its offense.