SAN DIEGO — The top-seeded Arizona Wildcats punched their ticket to the second weekend, fending off a late Utah State charge to win 78–66 in Sunday's NCAA Round of 32 at Viejas Arena — the Wildcats' 34th victory of the season, the second-most in program history, and their 22nd trip to the Sweet 16.

Arizona (34–2) controlled most of the afternoon and pushed its lead to 18 with 14:43 to play. But the ninth-seeded Aggies surged, stringing together stops and perimeter makes to slice the margin all the way to four on two occasions — 58–54 with 6:34 left and 63–59 at 5:03 — before the Wildcats steadied themselves and closed on an 15–7 run.

Jaden Bradley delivered again as Arizona's late-game closer, scoring 18 points (12 after halftime) and hitting back-to-back paint jumpers to stall Utah State's rally, then adding free throws to restore a two-possession cushion. Motiejus Krivas owned the glass with a double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds), including seven free throws and multiple tip-ins in the final minutes that swung momentum back Arizona's way. Koa Peat posted 14 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman Brayden Burries added 16 points on 3-for-3 from deep while grabbing nine boards.

The game turned on Arizona's work on the interior and at the stripe. The Wildcats finished with a 54–26 rebounding edge, piled up 21 second-chance points, and went 27-for-39 at the line, repeatedly cashing in during crunch time as the Aggies tried to trade threes for twos. Arizona's defense also held Utah State to 25.0% from three overall, despite a late flurry.

Arizona's start provided the runway it needed. Burries drilled a three on the opening possession, Bradley and Peat followed with early bursts, and the Wildcats led 33–24 at the half while limiting the Aggies to 1-for-12 from deep before intermission.

Up next is a matchup with No. 4 seed Arkansas on Thursday, March 26 at the SAP Center in San Jose. The game will tip-off at approximately 6:45 p.m. MST on CBS after Purdue takes on Texas in the first game of the day.