Photos: Undefeated Arizona muscles its way to a 77-51 win over Cincinnati, Big 12 basketball
The Wildcats ground down the Bearcats, pulling away late to keep up the winning streak with a 77-51 Big 12 win, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30), left, and center Motiejus Krivas (13) tangle with Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam (52) in the battle for a rebound during the first half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13), left, and forward Tobe Awaka (30) close down on Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam (52) and deprive him of the rebound during the first half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) wrestles with Cincinnati guard Shon Abaev (10) for the ball during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) forces his way into the lane through Cincinnati forward Jalen Celestine (32) for a basket during the second half of their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) gets an armful of Cincinnati forward Baba Miller (18) as the two fight for a rebound during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, left, and associate head coach Jack Murphy try to get the Wildcats over to the bench for a talk during a stoppage in the game against Cincinnati, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) floats a shot over Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam (52) during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) gets caught in the middle between Cincinnati forward Jalen Celestine (32), left, and forward Baba Miller (18) during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona guard Sven Djopmo forces his way past Cincinnati guard Keyshuan Tillery on a late second-half drive during their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Cincinnati guard Shon Abaev (10) gets a hand in the face of Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) on his drive during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) scoops a shot under the bucket against Cincinnati during the second half of their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) draws contact from Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam (52) on a shot during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas forces an awkward shot from Cincinnati guard Jizzle James during the first half of their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) can’t stop a slam dunk from Cincinnati forward Baba Miller (18) as he drives the baseline during the first half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) gets fired up after deflecting a Cincinnati pass into the stands during the second half of their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) gets enough space for shot around Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam (52) during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona forward Sidi Gueye (15) finishes off a big dunk late in the second half against Cincinnati, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) eyes Cincinnati forward Baba Miller (18) as the two try to reel in a loose ball during the first half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) takes hits from all sides from Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam (52), left, and forward Baba Miller (18) on a drive during the first half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) hops around Cincinnati guard Jizzle James (2) bringing up the ball during the first half of their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona guard Anthony Dell’Orso (3) gets hit by Cincinnati guard Keyshuan Tillery (7) trying to whip a pass along the baseline during the first half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) gets tangled in the net trying to block a floater from Cincinnati guard Sencire Harris (5) during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) slams into Cincinnati guard Day Day Thomas (1) trying to drive into the lane during the second half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0), left, and center Motiejus Krivas (13) team up to strip Cincinnati forward Tyler McKinley (24) of the ball during the second half of their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) works against Cincinnati guard Keyshuan Tillery (7) on a drive through the paint during the first half of their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, at McKale Center.
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) loses the handle as he’s stripped of possession dribbling into a crowded lane against Cincinnati during the first half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) gets arm in his block attempt on Cincinnati forward Baba Miller (18) during the first half of their Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Cincinnati guard Day Day Thomas (1) gets a hand on the ball as Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) looks for an outlet during the first half of their Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, in Tucson.
Former Salpointe High School and current Atlanta Falcon running back Bijan Robinson shakes a few hands and poses for selfies with the fans prior to the tip of the Arizona game against Cincinnati, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Former Wildcat and current Bearcat Kerr Kriisa gets a few early rounds of long range jumpers in as the Cincinnati guard returns to face Arizona for a Big 12 game, Jan. 21, 2026, at McKale Center.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) fine tunes his jump hook during the pre-game shoot-around before the Wildcats take on Cincinnati in a Big 12 game, January 21, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Can Arizona men’s basketball win it all without elite 3-point shooting? | Michael LevMichael Lev column: The top-ranked Arizona men’s basketball team has rolled to a 19-0 start. But the Wildcats aren’t a great 3-point shooting team. Could that be their eventual downfall?