Texas A&M @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 17, 2016 ) Texas A&M 63, Arizona 67

Texas A&M looks to add to its impressive nonconference resume Tuesday when the ninth-ranked Aggies face Arizona as part of the Valley of the Sun Shootout in Phoenix. The unbeaten Aggies, who have already posted wins over West Virginia, Oklahoma State and USC, will be tested by an Arizona team that boasts one of the top duos in the country in Deandre Ayton and Allonzo Trier.

Ayton and Trier have scored 51.7 percent of Arizona’s points through eight games and combined for 47 points and 15 rebounds in last Saturday’s 91-88 overtime win at UNLV. The Wildcats fell out of the national rankings with losses to North Carolina State, SMU and Purdue in the Bahamas but have bounced back with victories over Long Beach State and UNLV. The Wildcats hope to build on the emotional win over the Rebels when they face Texas A&M, which is off to its best start since 2005-06. The Aggies have opened by winning all of seven of their games by double digits behind a stellar backcourt and a dominant frontline of D.J. Hogg, Tyler Davis and Robert Williams.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (7-0): Hogg, Davis and guard Admon Gilder combined for 47 points last Thursday as the Aggies jumped to a 16-0 lead and cruised to a 78-60 victory over UT Rio Grande Valley. Freshman wing Savion Flagg contributed four points and four rebounds off the bench in his first action since suffering a fractured facial bone in the opener against West Virginia. Williams is averaging 8.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks for the Aggies, who are allowing 65.1 points per game and boast a balanced offense with eight players averaging more than 5.5 points per game.

ABOUT ARIZONA (5-3): Coach Sean Miller has been pleased by the play of senior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright and others, but he knows his team’s title hopes are tied to Ayton and Trier. “At the end of the day we have two offensive players who are really good and I think our team over time will learn how to utilize those two guys, how to bring out the best in them because both of them will make the game easier for the rest of our team,” Miller told reporters. Senior guard Rawle Alkins remains out with a broken foot but could return as soon as Saturday’s game against Alabama.

TIP-INS

1. Arizona holds a 7-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 67-63 win on Dec. 17, 2016 in Houston.

2. Davis scored a team-high 23 points in last season’s matchup and helped the Aggies rally from a 22-point deficit.

3. Arizona freshman forward Emmanuel Akot has been limited by knee tendinitis but is expected to be available Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 76, Arizona 73