SAN JOSE, Calif. — Arizona surged past Purdue with a dominant second half, turning a seven-point halftime deficit into a 79–64 victory Saturday night to punch its ticket to the Final Four for the fifth time in program history and the first time since 2001.

After trailing 38–31 at the break, the Wildcats exploded out of the locker room and outscored Purdue by 22 points in the second half, flipping the game with relentless pressure, interior scoring and timely perimeter shooting. Arizona poured in 48 second-half points while holding the Boilermakers to just 26, turning a poised, physical Regional Final into a runaway finish inside SAP Center.

Ivan Kharchenkov delivered one of the most complete performances of Arizona's postseason run, leading the Wildcats with 18 points and eight rebounds while repeatedly attacking the rim and finishing through contact. Koa Peat followed with 20 points and seven rebounds, asserting himself as Arizona controlled the paint during the decisive stretch.



Jaden Bradley steadied the Wildcats when the game hung in the balance, scoring 14 points, dishing out six assists and converting 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Bradley scored or assisted on Arizona's first four baskets of the second half, jump-starting the rally that erased Purdue's lead in under five minutes.

The turning point came midway through the half. After Bradley's driving layup tied the game at 42-42, Arizona ratcheted up its defensive pressure and began punishing Purdue in transition. Anthony Dell'Orso's fast-break three gave Arizona the lead for good, and a flurry of offensive rebounds and second-chance baskets quickly pushed the margin to double digits.

Arizona's balance proved overwhelming. Brayden Burries added 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep, while Motiejus Krivas quietly controlled the glass with 12 rebounds, anchoring the interior as Purdue's shooting cooled.

The Wildcats dominated the second half in nearly every category — winning the rebounding battle, piling up points in the paint and capitalizing on Purdue turnovers. Arizona finished the night at 90.9 percent from the free-throw line, repeatedly closing the door as the Boilermakers tried to mount late responses.

Purdue, which shot 50 percent from three in the first half, managed just 1-for-8 beyond the arc after intermission, unable to counter Arizona's athleticism and defensive intensity. The Wildcats stretched the lead to as many as 18 in the final minute, sealing one of their most complete tournament performances of the Tommy Lloyd era.

The win sends Arizona to the Final Four for the fifth time in program history, adding to a storied NCAA Tournament legacy that includes a national championship in 1997 and multiple deep runs over the past four decades. It also caps another milestone in a historic season as the Wildcats earn a program record 36^th win of the season.