PHOENIX, Ariz. – Just days after capturing the victory at UNLV in an overtime thriller, the Arizona Wildcats head back to the hardwood for head-to-head meeting with top-ten ranked Texas A&M. The Cats and Aggies will meet inside the home of the Phoenix Suns, Talking Stick Resort Arena, in primetime on Tuesday night on ESPN2.  

Arizona vs. No. 7/9 Texas A&M
Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7:00 p.m. (MST)
TV: ESPN2 (Dave Pasch & Bill Walton)
Radio: Arizona IMG Radio Network (Brian Jeffries & Ryan Hansen)
Twitter: @APlayersProgram
#BearDown
 
The Wildcats return to the Grand Canyon State for a showdown versus No. 7/9 Texas A&M in a neutral site game at the home of the Phoenix Suns, Talking Stick Resort Arena. Arizona is 7-0 in non-conference games played in Phoenix since 1992.

UA earned a 91-88 victory in overtime at UNLV on Saturday. The Cats overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half courtesy of 57 combined points from Allonzo Trier and Deandre Ayton. Ayton's final line for the night was 28 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in 39 minutes of action. The victory in extra time was the program's first overtime win since defeating Santa Clara, 75-73, in the 2015 Wooden Legacy in Southern California.

Freshman Deandre Ayton enters the week as one just four players in the nation to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent or better from the field. Three of those four players are freshmen with Marvin Bagley III (Duke) and Brandon McCoy (UNLV) joining Ayton in that distinction.

Arizona's all-time record of 25-26 (.490) against the SEC is the program's lowest mark against any conference. The Wildcats are 5-3 versus SEC members under head coach Sean Miller with a current streak of four consecutive wins.

Allonzo Trier, the leading scorer in the Pac-12 Conference, is averaging 23.9 points per game while also ranking eighth nationally in scoring. The junior has scored 25 or more points in six of his eight games this season.

Tuesday's game with the Aggies is the backend of a semi-neutral, home-and-home series. A short-handed Arizona team, with only seven available players, held on for a 67-63 victory in Houston. Texas A&M took the Wildcats to the brink as they scored 18 unanswered in the waning minutes before a pair of Rawle Alkins free throws put away the game. Dusan Ristic led UA with 18 points, which stands as the third-highest scoring game of his career.

Arizona is one of only three teams to have two players averaging 20 or more points per game, joining Marquette and Oakland.

UA's recent history of games played up I-10 has been a resounding success with wins in the last seven non-conference games played in Phoenix. Five of those seven victories have come against nationally-ranked opponents, including three versus top-five ranked foes.