N. Arizona plays host to San Diego

Published Dec. 17, 2021 6:30 a.m. ET

Associated Press

San Diego (6-5) vs. Northern Arizona (4-6)

Footprint Center, Phoenix; Saturday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: San Diego faces Northern Arizona in a non-conference matchup. Each team last played on Saturday. San Diego easily beat Cal Lutheran by 29 at home, while Northern Arizona is coming off of a 76-71 overtime loss at South Dakota.

BIG MEN ON CAMPUS: Northern Arizona's Jalen Cone has averaged 17.4 points while Carson Towt has put up 8.2 points and 10 rebounds. For the Toreros, Marcellus Earlington has averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds while Vladimir Pinchuk has put up 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds.EFFICIENT EARLINGTON: Earlington has connected on 41.9 percent of the 43 3-pointers he's attempted and has made 9 of 22 over the last five games. He's also made 56.5 percent of his free throws this season.

WINLESS WHEN: Northern Arizona is 0-5 this year when it scores 71 points or fewer and 4-1 when it scores at least 72.

ACCOUNTING FOR ASSISTS: The Toreros have recently created baskets via assists more often than the Lumberjacks. Northern Arizona has 28 assists on 63 field goals (44.4 percent) over its previous three outings while San Diego has assists on 35 of 65 field goals (53.8 percent) during its past three games.

DID YOU KNOW: The sturdy San Diego defense has held opponents to just 58.6 points per game, the 20th-lowest in Division I. Northern Arizona has given up an average of 72.1 points through 10 games (ranked 202nd, nationally).

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