MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL · GAME DAY
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks0-2AWAY
#12 Arizona Wildcats1-1HOMEMcKale Center at ALKEME Arena · ESPN+
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MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL · ARCHIVED PREGAME PRIMER
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No. 12 Arizona is 1–1; Northern Arizona is 0–2 and still searching for a clean offensive night. Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas give the Wildcats major scoring threats. Chris Komin is the Lumberjack to know after consecutive 20-point games. Watch whether NAU can get a useful shot without giving Arizona transition chances through turnovers. The schools have met 129 times, and Arizona owns the last 35 wins. Tipoff in Tucson: 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MST on ESPN+.
Arizona followed an 84–75 loss to UCLA with a 104–84 win over Cal Poly. Northern Arizona has lost at UNLV and New Mexico as part of a four-game road stretch to begin the season. FanFluent’s question is whether the Lumberjacks can settle into possessions long enough to make their scoring talent relevant. The Wildcats have already seen a ranked opponent and then a more comfortable home assignment. Tonight tests their ability to sustain good habits while carrying the expectations of the favored team.
Ivan Kharchenkov scored 38 against UCLA; Motiejus Krivas scored 30 against Cal Poly. Krivas also blocked six shots in the UCLA game. Those performances identify two problems for NAU: covering a major scorer away from the rim and dealing with size around it. Our viewing cue is the first help defender. If he moves toward Krivas too early, a teammate may receive the next pass with space. If he arrives late, the Lumberjacks may be defending a finish rather than preventing the catch.
Chris Komin had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists at New Mexico. He became only the third NAU player in the past 33 years to begin a season with consecutive 20-point games. Against Arizona, our watch is whether his touches can help someone else get an easier attempt. Ryan Abelman and Lucas Toukam also scored in double figures in Albuquerque. A defense forced to respect the next pass has more work to do than one able to focus on a single player manufacturing every good shot.
NAU committed 16 turnovers at New Mexico and forced only two. The Lobos turned that into a 23–0 advantage in points off turnovers, on the way to a 94–65 win. FanFluent analysis: that is too much lost ground to ask even a productive scorer to recover. When Arizona applies pressure, watch for a teammate coming back to give the ball-handler a safe passing option. A safe reset can be a good possession if the alternative is a live-ball turnover that becomes an uncontested chance at the other end.
Former Arizona player Dylan Anderson started for NAU at New Mexico and finished with eight points and four rebounds. His return adds a personal connection, but the immediate task is shared by every Lumberjack: handle the ball, create a playable spacing arrangement and finish the possession with a real attempt. Our read is that NAU’s progress should be measured in sustained stretches of that work. For Arizona, watch whether an early lead changes its defensive attention. Preventing an opponent from finding rhythm is a useful habit regardless of the final margin.
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Dylan Anderson spent two seasons at Arizona before later joining Northern Arizona. His November 2026 return to Tucson adds a personal story to the in-state matchup. Does knowing an arena make a visiting player more comfortable—or make the occasion feel bigger?
Ben Howland’s 1998–99 Northern Arizona team led the nation in both field-goal and three-point percentage. If you mostly associate Howland with larger programs, the Lumberjacks offer a surprising earlier chapter of his coaching story.
The reviewed school previews do not provide comprehensive game-day injury lists. The player discussion reflects their November 8–9 reports and latest completed games.