New Mexico @ Nevada preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2019 ) Nevada 58, New Mexico 85

It has been a season of highs for sixth-ranked Nevada which has a 22-1 record, the best mark in school history after 23 games, and has tied the mark for its best start in Mountain West play at 9-1. But there also was one very big low, a 85-58 loss at New Mexico on Jan. 5, and the Wolf Pack have a chance to atone for its lone slip-up on Saturday afternoon when they host the Lobos.

New Mexico, which is tied for eighth place with Colorado State in a weak Mountain West, has dropped six of its last eight games since its stunning upset of the Wolf Pack but comes in off an impressive 83-70 home win over San Diego State on Tuesday. Nevada has won eight straight since the beat-down at The Pit, including a 98-82 victory at Colorado State on Wednesday night behind 40 points and 12 rebounds from senior forward Jordan Caroline. Needless to say the Wolf Pack, who hold a one-game game lead over Utah State in its quest to become the first team in conference history to win three consecutive outright regular season championships, are looking forward to the rematch with the Lobos. "Most definitely," Caroline said. "It's a tough team. It's a rivalry game. It's a big game on our schedule. And they got us by (27). ... We feel like we have something to avenge."

TV: 6 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT NEW MEXICO (10-12, 4-6 MW): Senior guard Anthony Mathis, who scored a career-high 27 points in the first meeting with the Wolf Pack, leads the team in scoring (15.8 points per game) and had 17 in the win over San Diego State. Sophomore swingman Vance Jackson, a transfer from UConn, is second in scoring (12.5) to go along with 7.1 rebounds per game but finished with only four points on 1-of-5 shooting against the Aztecs. Junior forward Carlton Bragg, a former McDonald's All-American who began his career at Kansas, also is averaging in double figures (10.8) while grabbing a team best 8.2 rebounds per game and has had 11 or more rebounds in three of the last four games.

ABOUT NEVADA (22-1, 9-1): The 6-7, 230-pound Caroline, a preseason first team All-Mountain West selection, is averaging a double-double at 19.3 points and grabbing 10 rebounds per game. He has 14 double-doubles this season and 44 in his career, which began at Southern Illinois, and he broke the Mountain West career record previously held by Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State, 2009-11) and Andrew Bogut (Utah, 2003-05) with his 41st against Colorado State. Reigning conference player of the year Caleb Martin also is averaging 19.3 points with guard Jazz Johnson (11.2) and Cody Martin (11.1) averaging double digits as well.

TIP-INS

1. Nevada has a 14-game home win streak and is 43-2 in its last 45 games at the Lawlor Events Center.

2. The Wolf Pack have won its last eight games by an average of 19.8 points.

3. Mathis ranks seventh in the nation in total 3-pointers made (82) and ninth in 3-pointers made per game (3.73).

PREDICTION: Nevada 95, New Mexico 74