New Mexico @ Texas Christian preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 25, 2012 ) New Mexico 64, Texas Christian 83

Last season, Jamie Dixon laid the groundwork for TCU's first potential NCAA Tournament berth this century by leading his alma mater to a NIT Championship. With four straight victories to begin his second season in charge, Dixon will have the Horned Frogs eyeing their first 10-game winning streak since a 13-game run to open the 2014-15 campaign Friday when they square off against New Mexico in a third-round game of the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Fla.

TCU held three of its five opponents below 60 points during its March surge, and that same defensive intensity was on display in Monday's 99-66 rout of Omaha. Although Dixon was displeased with his team allowing the Mavericks to shoot 51 percent due to a lack of intensity late in the contest, the Horned Frogs turned 26 turnovers -- including 13 steals -- into 36 points and led by as many as 42. The Lobos enter this event tied for fourth in Division I averaging 100.5 points per game but have dropped each of their last two, including a 104-96 home loss to Tennessee Tech on Tuesday that left first-year coach Paul Weir particularly unhappy. "We haven't spent enough time on their individual skill development. It was awful. It looks like we don't coach. It was embarrassing to be honest with you. I didn't think we were that bad of a passing team but (Tuesday) we really were," Weir told reporters.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT NEW MEXICO (2-2): For the second time this season, Chris McNeal (18.0 points per game) caught fire from long range Tuesday, connecting on seven of his 11 3-point attempts en route to a career-high 29 points; the junior guard also scored 24 points on 6-of-10 beyond the arc in the Lobo's season-opening win. Sam Logwood (15.3 points) entered 2017-18 as New Mexico's top returning scorer and lone returning starter, but the 6-8 guard is more than doubling his 7.3-point average from last season after scoring a career-high 21 against Tennessee Tech. Troy Simons totaled 43 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists off the bench over his first two games, but he has tallied three points, three boards and two assists over 29 minutes in the Lobos' two losses.

ABOUT TCU (4-0): Alex Robinson, who is questionable for Friday, suffered a bone bruise in his foot during the Horned Frogs' Nov. 15 win over South Dakota, allowing backup sophomore guard Jaylen Fisher to run the show and contribute nine points to go along with a career-high nine assists in 26 minutes. Preseason All-Big 12 Conference selection Vladimir Brodziansky leads the team in scoring (17.3 points) and blocks (2.5), doing so while shooting 65 percent from the field and playing only 24.8 minutes. Sophomore guard Desmond Bane (15 points per game) has been the model of efficiency through four games, ranking third in the Big 12 in 3-pointers (12), second in field-goal percentage (78.6) and first in 3-point accuracy (70.6).

TIP-INS

1. New Mexico owns a 16-6 advantage in the series, but the two teams have not met since 2012.

2. All four Horned Frogs who are averaging at least 10 points are also shooting at least 56 percent from the floor, while all of TCU's single-digit scorers are shooting below 50 percent.

3. The Lobos rank second in the country in 3-pointers (14.3) and sixth in forced turnovers (22.5).

PREDICTION: TCU 94, New Mexico 80