Bradley hit a buzzer-beating jumper to lift No. 2 Arizona to an 82–80 victory over No. 7 Iowa State on Friday night, sending the Wildcats into the Big 12 championship game after one of the most dramatic finishes of the college basketball season.
Bradley admitted afterward he wasn’t even sure the shot had gone in.
“I didn’t really see it go through,” he said. “But when everyone jumped on me, I knew.”
The guard found himself at the bottom of a celebration pile as Arizona teammates stormed the court after his game-winning shot. Moments like that, Bradley said, are the kind players imagine growing up.
“That’s stuff you dream about in the backyard — counting down and hitting the shot,” he said. “But once everybody jumped on me, it was hard to breathe.”
The closing minutes of the game turned into an offensive showcase, despite both teams being known for their strong defenses. Arizona and Iowa State combined to make 11 of their final 13 shots during the final stretch.
Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov helped spark the run with a turnaround shot in the lane that gave the Wildcats a five-point lead. Iowa State quickly responded when Milan Momcilovic knocked down a three-pointer.
What followed was a remarkable exchange of long-range shots.
Arizona’s Anthony Dell’Orso answered with a three of his own. Momcilovic responded with another three. Dell’Orso then hit yet another three, continuing the back-and-forth scoring burst.
“JB kept finding me,” Dell’Orso said, referring to Bradley. “I felt like I was open every possession.”
Dell’Orso finished with 26 points and made six shots from beyond the arc.
The scoring barrage continued when Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson drilled another three to keep the Cyclones within reach. Bradley then missed a layup on Arizona’s next possession, but Tobe Awaka followed with a dunk off the rebound to keep the Wildcats ahead.
On the defensive end, Arizona center Motiejus Krivas made a crucial play by blocking Tamin Lipsey’s layup attempt out of bounds. But Iowa State still managed to score, as Momcilovic connected on another three-pointer.
Despite both teams ranking among the nation’s top defensive programs, neither side could get a stop during the final four minutes.
Lipsey, who had struggled most of the night and was just 1-for-10 from the field before the play, hit a clutch three-pointer to tie the game in the final seconds and set the stage for Bradley’s heroics.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd chose not to call a timeout for the final possession. Instead, he trusted Bradley to create a shot on his own.
“We practice a lot of ‘figure it out’ situations,” Lloyd said. “Sometimes players just have to read the moment and make the right play.”
Bradley drove into position and pulled up for a contested mid-range jumper as the clock expired.
“I was just trying to get to my spot,” Bradley said. “I had hit a mid-range earlier, so I just wanted a good look. It was a tough shot, but it went down.”
The victory sends Arizona into the Big 12 championship game and capped a dramatic night in front of a crowd that largely favored Iowa State.
Lloyd had encouraged his team to create its own energy regardless of the crowd. After Bradley’s final shot dropped through the net, the Wildcats had every reason to celebrate.