Arizona Wildcats 79-64 comeback win over Purdue in Elite Eight, advancing to its first Final Four in 25 years.
SAN JOSE, CA — Arizona’s March Madness drought is officially over. The No. 1-seeded Arizona Wildcats roared back from a halftime deficit to stun No. 2 Purdue 79-64 in the Elite Eight, punching their ticket to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.
In a game that felt like a war of wills, Purdue built a seven-point lead before halftime — the biggest Arizona had faced all tournament — and threatened to revive nightmares of March past. But the Wildcats, undefeated when trailing at halftime this season, flipped the script in the second half. A ferocious 16-3 run seized control, and Arizona outscored the Boilermakers 48-26 after the break, burying Purdue’s early momentum.
Freshman Koa Peat, named West Region Most Outstanding Player, led four Arizona starters in double figures with 20 points. The Wildcats have now won all four tournament games by double digits and stormed past the program’s lingering curse en route to a program-record 36 wins.
For Purdue, the loss ends a promising season and keeps alive its long struggle against No. 1 seeds in NCAA tournament history. Senior guard Braden Smith, finishing his career as the NCAA’s all-time assist leader, watched the Boilermakers’ title hopes slip away.
Now Arizona heads to Indianapolis — the site of its lone national title in 1997 — where it will face the winner of Michigan vs. Tennessee in the national semifinals, with the chance to finally capture its second championship.
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