Arizona’s Anthony Dell’Orso and Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic had a scoring duel down the stretch. But when Arizona truly needed a basket in crunch time, Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley delivered.
Bradley delivered a game-winning jumper with no time on the clock to give the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats an 82-80 win over the No. 7 Iowa State Cyclones. The Wildcats are headed for The Big 12 tourney final and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Jaden Bradley is a crunch-time superstar
Bradley is averaging 36 points per 40 minutes in clutch situations this season. He carried the Wildcats to two close wins early in the season, shooting 7-for-8 with no turnovers against UCLA and Florida.
The Wildcats needed him desperately Friday in a game where freshman phenom Brayden Burries scored just three points (he averages 16.2), seemingly bothered by an injury. They got a huge game from Dell’Orso, who shot 6-for-9 from three-point range on his way to 26 points off the bench.
As hot as Dell’Orso had been, Arizona still went to Bradley when things were most important. He made two difficult jumpers in the final minute to finish with 15 points, along with seven assists.