Arkansas @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 25, 2017 ) Arkansas 79, Auburn 68

Auburn seeks its 12th straight victory - and second straight over a ranked opponent - when it hosts No. 23 Arkansas on Saturday in its first Southeastern Conference contest at home. The Tigers defeated host Tennessee in its league opener last Saturday, while the Razorbacks had their six-game winning streak snapped by Mississippi State on Tuesday.

Arkansas finished under 80 points for the first time since their previous loss on Dec. 2 in falling to the Bulldogs, and the team is 0-3 when scoring 75 or fewer this season. The senior guard duo of Jaylen Barford (18.7 points, 3.6 assists) and Daryl Macon (17.2, 3.9) is the key for coach Mike Anderson, who owns a 5-0 record at Auburn Arena while with the Razorbacks. The Tigers have six players averaging at least 8.4 points, including Bryce Brown (15.9 points) and Mustapha Heron (15.8). But for all the offense Auburn possesses, its defense has been a big part of the winning streak, as the team has held opponents to 40.1 percent shooting while averaging 7.3 steals and 6.4 blocks.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT ARKANSAS (11-3, 1-1 SEC): Following the Razorbacks' first loss in a month, Anderson was lamenting his team's lack of aggressiveness on the defensive boards as it allowed Mississippi State to grab 17 offensive rebounds. Anderson wasn't mentioning names, instead saying that Arkansas needs a team effort on the defensive glass to limit the number of chances SEC opponents have to score. Freshman forward Daniel Gafford, who stands 6-11, leads the team with 6.3 rebounds per game, but with Trey Thompson the only other player on the roster over 6-8, effort and hustle will be what gets Anderson what he wants.

ABOUT AUBURN (13-1, 1-0): Junior forward Horace Spencer started the first six games of the season but has been coming off the bench since coach Bruce Pearl has moved sophomore Anfernee McLemore into the starting lineup. As a reserve over the last three contests, Spencer has averaged 10.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while shooting 59 percent in 19 minutes. Spencer has developed more post moves, including a hook shot, to make himself a scoring threat down low and give Pearl a point producer off the bench.

TIP-INS

1. Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks ninth in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at plus-1.6.

2. Auburn is 13th in the nation in free-throw percentage, hitting 77.9 percent as a team while all eight players who have attempted at least 20 foul shots are shooting at least 74.1 percent.

3. The 51st matchup of the schools as SEC opponents will feature the conference's top two scoring teams, with Arkansas leading the way at 89.3 points per game and Auburn coming in at 87.3.

PREDICTION: Auburn 90, Arkansas 87