Sunday, November 30th, 4:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: McKale Center (14,545) -- Tucson, Arizona. Television: FSN-AZ. Home Record: NAU 1-1, Arizona 1-1. Away Record: NAU 0-3, Arizona 0-0. Neutral Record: NAU 0-0, Arizona 2-0. Conference Record: NAU 0-0, Arizona 0-0. Series Record: Arizona leads, 90-27.

GAME NOTES: Intrastate rivals square off in Tucson today, as the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks challenge the Arizona Wildcats in a non-conference bout at the McKale Center. The Lumberjacks have won just one of their first five outings and are currently riding a three-game slide. The team was most recently in play on Tuesday, when it was beaten 89-82 at home by North Dakota State. Of NAU's four losses this season, three have come on the road. As for Arizona, it has played all its games in the NIT Season Tip-Off, going 3-1 in the event. The Wildcats have won their last two contests, including a 69-66 victory over Santa Clara on Tuesday. Arizona has simply dominated NAU over the years, as it holds a commanding 90-27 advantage in the series. The Wildcats have won the last 24 meetings with NAU, including a 76-69 victory in Tucson last season.

The Lumberjacks were outscored at the foul line, 29-12, and that was the difference in their seven-point loss to North Dakota State on Tuesday. NAU kept things interesting by shooting 53.4 percent from the floor, but it still wasn't enough to overcome the big difference at the charity stripe. Matt Johnson and Cameron Jones each scored 13 points to pace the Lumberjacks, while Josh Lepley and Zarko Comagic chipped in 12 points apiece off the bench. On the season, Johnson leads the team in scoring at 13.2 ppg and he is also pulling down 4.2 rpg. Wilson checks in with 10.8 ppg and 3.0 apg, and Comagic rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.7 ppg. Overall, NAU is turning in 72.4 ppg behind a solid 48.7 percent shooting from the field this season.

Arizona shot an unconscious 65.2 percent from the floor, as it slipped past Santa Clara on Tuesday. The Wildcats also won the battle on the boards, 24-18, and that helped compensate for their 16 turnovers. Chase Budinger led the charge with 22 points and five boards, while Jordan Hill had 20 points and nine rebounds. After four games, Budinger has emerged as the team's go-to-guy, averaging a healthy 23.5 ppg, to go with 5.3 rpg. Hill has been a monster down low and is averaging a double-double with 16.0 ppg and 12.8 rpg, while Nic Wise adds 12.5 ppg and 7.0 apg to the rotation. As a team, Arizona is averaging 75.2 ppg and making good on 54.0 percent of its attempts from the floor.

The Wildcats have simply owned the Lumberjacks over the years and they should have no problem continuing that trend behind the efforts of Budinger and company today.

Predicted Outcome

Arizona 80, Northern Arizona 60