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Saturday’s Top 25 slate delivered heavyweight matchups, ranked upsets, and several statement performances. Duke outlasted No. 1 Michigan in a neutral-site showdown. Arizona walked into Houston and handed the Cougars their first home loss. BYU stunned Iowa State. And UCLA closed the night with an overtime buzzer-beater.
For bettors, the day was defined by rebounding margins, three-point variance, and late-game execution. Some ranked teams flexed depth and balance. Others exposed shooting inconsistencies that could matter in March.
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North Texas Mean Green
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Florida Atlantic Owls
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Feb 22, 2026 16:00 EST
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o+138.50-115
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Wisconsin Badgers
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Iowa Hawkeyes
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Feb 22, 2026 16:00 EST
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o+147.00-110
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Tulsa Golden Hurricane
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UTSA Roadrunners
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Feb 22, 2026 16:00 EST
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o+159.00-110
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Top Takeaways
• Duke dominated the glass 41-28 and snapped Michigan’s 11-game winning streak in a potential Final Four preview.
• Arizona handed Houston its first home loss of the season, taking sole possession of the Big 12 lead.
• BYU protected home court and rode a near triple-double to knock off No. 6 Iowa State.
• Cincinnati delivered Kansas’ most lopsided home loss to an unranked team in Bill Self’s tenure.
• UCLA’s overtime buzzer-beater capped a slate filled with late-game volatility.
• Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort drilled eight threes and continues to fuel the Cornhuskers’ top-tier seeding push.
Top 25 Game Recaps
Ranked matchups carry weight, but for bettors the real story is how the game unfolded. Was it rebounding control, three-point variance, turnover pressure, or late free throws that decided it? That context matters more than the ranking next to the team name.
In this section, we break down each Top 25 result with a bettor-first lens. Who controlled the key stretches. Where momentum shifted. And what actually separated the winner from the loser when it mattered most.
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Duke vs Michigan Recap: Duke wins 68-63
Cameron Boozer posted 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists as No. 3 Duke held off No. 1 Michigan in Washington, D.C.
The Blue Devils controlled the boards with a 41-28 advantage and had four players in double figures. Michigan shot just 40 percent from the field and 6-for-25 from three. Yaxel Lendeborg scored 21, including 16 in the first half, but Duke’s rebounding edge and defensive pressure closed it out.
Arizona vs Houston Recap: Arizona wins 73-66
Anthony Dell’Orso matched his season high with 22 points off the bench as No. 4 Arizona handed No. 2 Houston its first home loss of the season.
Arizona shot efficiently and seized sole possession of the Big 12 lead. Jaden Bradley added 17 points, and Ivan Kharchenkov contributed 16 and nine rebounds. Houston dropped its second straight after a six-game winning streak.
UConn vs Villanova Recap: UConn wins 73-63
Alex Karaban scored eight of his 12 points in the second half as No. 5 UConn bounced back with a road win in Philadelphia.
All five starters scored between nine and 12 points, reflecting balanced production. Villanova’s six-game win streak ended as the Wildcats struggled to generate consistent offense late.
BYU vs Iowa State Recap: BYU wins 79-69
AJ Dybantsa nearly posted a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists as No. 23 BYU upset No. 6 Iowa State in Provo.
BYU improved to 11-2 at home. Iowa State entered off consecutive Top-10 wins but could not maintain that level, despite 19 points from Tamin Lipsey.
Cincinnati vs Kansas Recap: Cincinnati wins 84-68
Moustapha Thiam scored 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Cincinnati beat No. 8 Kansas in Lawrence.
The Bearcats’ balanced stat lines and consistent scoring stretches overwhelmed the Jayhawks, who suffered their most lopsided home loss to an unranked team under Bill Self.
Nebraska vs Penn State Recap: Nebraska wins 87-64
Pryce Sandfort scored a career-high 33 points, hitting eight three-pointers, as No. 9 Nebraska handled Penn State.
The Cornhuskers shot efficiently while limiting Penn State to 4-of-20 from beyond the arc. The win strengthens Nebraska’s projected tournament seeding.
UCLA vs Illinois Recap: UCLA wins 95-94 (OT)
Donovan Dent drove the length of the court for the game-winning layup at the buzzer in overtime as UCLA edged No. 10 Illinois.
Dent finished with 14 points and 15 assists. Illinois had balanced scoring but lost for the third time in five games, unable to secure the final defensive stop.
Gonzaga vs Pacific Recap: Gonzaga wins 71-62
Graham Ike scored 20 points for a ninth straight game over 20, breaking a school record as No. 11 Gonzaga held off Pacific.
The Bulldogs leaned on consistent interior scoring and bench contributions to maintain control late.
Florida vs Ole Miss Recap: Florida wins 94-75
Alex Condon scored 24 points as No. 12 Florida won its seventh straight game.
Florida shot 57.1 percent and held a 39-24 rebounding advantage, overwhelming Ole Miss physically.
Texas Tech vs Kansas State Recap: Texas Tech wins 100-72
Donovan Atwell scored 26 points, including 21 in the first half, as No. 13 Texas Tech rolled.
The Red Raiders shot 54.8 percent and hit 13 three-pointers, overpowering Kansas State early.
Virginia vs Miami Recap: Virginia wins 86-83
Chance Mallory hit three free throws with 3.6 seconds left as No. 14 Virginia extended its winning streak to eight.
Six Cavaliers scored in double figures, reflecting depth and late composure.
North Carolina vs Syracuse Recap: North Carolina wins 77-64
Henri Veesaar scored 19 points in his return as No. 16 North Carolina won on the road.
The Tar Heels shot efficiently and controlled interior defense despite roster adjustments.
St. John’s vs Creighton Recap: St. John’s wins 81-52
Dylan Darling scored 17 as No. 17 St. John’s extended its winning streak to 13 with a wire-to-wire victory.
Creighton managed just nine points from its leading scorer as the Red Storm dominated from start to finish.
Tennessee vs Vanderbilt Recap: Tennessee wins 69-65
Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 17 and Nate Ament added 13 as Tennessee upset No. 19 Vanderbilt on the road.
A late jumper and clutch free throws sealed it, while Tennessee controlled the boards 39-30.
Arkansas vs Missouri Recap: Arkansas wins 94-86
Billy Richmond III scored 21 and Darius Acuff Jr. added 20 as No. 20 Arkansas rallied from an early deficit.
Balanced scoring and interior presence flipped momentum after Missouri’s hot start.
Louisville vs Georgia Tech Recap: Louisville wins 87-70
Mikel Brown Jr. scored 19 as No. 21 Louisville earned a wire-to-wire win at home.
Georgia Tech dropped its ninth straight, struggling to match Louisville’s perimeter shooting.
Alabama vs LSU Recap: Alabama wins 90-83
Aden Holloway scored 17 and Aiden Sherrell posted a double-double as No. 25 Alabama won its sixth straight.
LSU fell to 1-6 at home in SEC play despite 21 points from Marquel Sutton.
College Basketball Picks and Handicappers
Late-season college basketball is about form, depth, and matchup-specific advantages. Rebounding edges and three-point efficiency continue to drive outcomes against the spread.
You can compare expert performance across verified sports handicappers and evaluate daily trends through the free service plays. For a structured approach to bankroll management and situational analysis, the Bettor’s Handbook offers foundational guidance tailored to college hoops.
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