Arizona Aims to Protect Perfect Record Against West Virginia

TUCSON, Ariz. (Interstat) — The undefeated and second-ranked Arizona Wildcats put their perfect season on the line Saturday when they host the West Virginia Mountaineers in a Big 12 conference matchup at McKale Center.

Arizona (19-0, 6-0 Big 12) is one of the nation’s last remaining unbeaten teams, showcasing a dominant and balanced attack. The Wildcats are coming off a 77-51 rout of Cincinnati on Wednesday, their 12th victory this season by 20 or more points.

The Wildcats are led by center Motiejus Krivas, who is averaging 17 points over his last two games. The 7-foot-2 sophomore provides a formidable presence inside, complementing a deep perimeter corps that includes Ivan Kharchenkov and Koa Peat.

West Virginia (13-6, 3-3) arrives with momentum after a 75-63 road win at Arizona State on Wednesday. The Mountaineers have shown resilience, winning three of their last four conference games following an 0-2 start in Big 12 play.

The Mountaineers will rely heavily on guard Treysen Eaglestaff, who scored 23 points in the win at Arizona State. Eaglestaff has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 18.5 points in West Virginia’s four conference victories this season.

However, the challenge is steep. Arizona boasts the nation’s top scoring offense, averaging 91.2 points per game, and ranks third in scoring margin (+25.7). West Virginia’s defense, which allows just 66.2 points per game, will be tested by Arizona’s pace and firepower.

History also favors the Wildcats, who have won 25 consecutive home games at McKale Center, the second-longest active streak in the country.

A win would keep Arizona on track for a historic regular season, while West Virginia seeks a statement road victory to bolster its NCAA tournament resume.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Up Next: Arizona travels to face BYU on Monday. West Virginia hosts Kansas State on Tuesday.