Arizona @ New Mexico preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 20, 2016 ) New Mexico 46, Arizona 77

Arizona has reeled off four straight wins and has climbed back into the national rankings for the first time since its disastrous 0-3 Thanksgiving trip to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis. Now, the 23rd-ranked Wildcats are preparing for their final nonconference road game – Saturday night’s visit to Albuquerque to play struggling New Mexico.

Outside of a 91-56 home romp over Long Beach State, though, on Nov. 29, Arizona’s win streak has been anything but a breeze. Three-point victories at UNLV (91-88) and against then-No. 9 Texas A&M (67-64) in Phoenix followed before last Saturday’s hard-fought 88-82 win over visiting Alabama. The Wildcats have had a week off since as they prepare for their final road jaunt of 2017, and undoubtedly most of the practice focus has been on defense with their last three foes averaging 78 points per outing. “Certainly there’s room for improvement,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said Saturday in his post-game news conference.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT ARIZONA (7-3): Freshman big man Deandre Ayton is averaging 20.5 points and ranks fifth nationally with 11.9 rebounds after posting career highs of 29 points and 18 boards in the win over Alabama. Thanks to a 14-of-16 performance at the free throw line, guard Allonzo Trier added 25 points in the contest and has now topped 20 points in seven of his 10 games this season while averaging a team-best 22.3 points. But with Ayton and Trier averaging a combined 42.8 points, the rest of the Wildcats are averaging 41.2, led by center Dusan Ristic (9.4, 5.5 rebounds) and point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (7.8 points, team-most 5.0 assists).

ABOUT NEW MEXICO (3-7): The season has been a struggle so far for first-year coach Paul Weir and the Lobos, who have dropped seven of their last eight following a 2-0 start. Leading scorer (14.9) and rebounder (5.1) Sam Logwood missed the team’s last game – a 65-62 loss to visiting New Mexico State last Saturday – after leaving the squad for “personal-leave” time, and there has been no indication when (or if) the 6-foot-8 senior swingman will return. Guards Chris McNeal (13.3 points) and Anthony Mathis (10.6) are the other Lobos averaging in double figures while guard Antino Jackson (8.8) scored a team-high 14 in the loss to the Aggies.

TIP-INS

1. The schools from neighboring states renewed their rivalry last season after a 16-year hiatus, and Arizona dominated visiting New Mexico 77-46, courtesy, in large part, of a 48-28 rebound advantage.

2. The Wildcats look to have another huge edge on the glass Saturday as they enter the game with an average rebound margin of 6.5 while the Lobos are averaging a minus-6.8.

3. Jackson-Cartwright had five assists and no turnovers vs. the Crimson Tide, and has a 23-to-5 assist-to-turnover ratio over his last five outings.

PREDICTION: Arizona 87, New Mexico 66