#ZOUNotes

• Mizzou Men's Basketball hits the road to face No. 13 Arizona (8-1) at the McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday, Dec. 13. The game will tipoff at 7 p.m. CT on the Pac-12 Networks.
• The Tigers (5-3) scored in bunches to defeat Omaha on Dec. 9, winning by a score of 85-78. Freshmen Kevin Puryear and Terrence Phillips led the way with 18 and 14 points, respectively.
• Puryear has 113 points through the first eight games of his freshman season, putting him on pace amongst the likes of Mizzou greats Steve Stipanovich (133), Jevon Crudup (112) and Kelly Thames (108).
• Mizzou is averaging 72.1 points per game after eight games, an improvement from last season's eight-game average of 63.9.
• Sophomore guard Namon Wright has improved his game in two distinct ways: rebounding and drawing fouls. Wright is averaging 5.0 rebounds per game a season after averaging just 2.3. He has already attempted 34 free throws after taking just 18 in 2014-15.

Last Time Out

• Mizzou (5-3) improved to 5-0 at home this season with its 85-78 win over Omaha (Dec. 9). The 85 points are the second-highest single-game total this season and the third 80-plus point game this season for the Tigers.
• The Tigers' strong defense led to a season-high nine steals. The team's last nine-plus steal game was on Jan. 29, 2015, against Kentucky.
• Mizzou's defense forced a season-high 16 Omaha turnovers. The last time a Tigers' opponent committed 16-plus turnovers was on Jan. 8, 2015, against LSU.
• Freshman forward Kevin Puryear paced the Tigers' offense with 18 points, marking his fourth consecutive double-digit point game and seventh overall this season.
• Puryear's eight rebounds set a new season-high in the category, surpassing his previous best of seven on Dec. 1, against Arkansas State.
• Freshman guard Terrence Phillips knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half, matching his season-high in just the first 20 minutes of play.

When K.P. and T.P. Get Going...

• Mizzou's Kevin Puryear and Terrence Phillips are the Tigers' top two leading scorers through eight games, with the freshmen averaging 14.1 and 10.0 points per game, respectively.
• Puryear or Phillips have combined to be Mizzou's No. 1 and No. 2 scorers in the latest two wins for the Tigers: 78-71 vs. Northern Illinois (Dec. 4) and 85-78 vs. Omaha (Dec. 9). 
• The duo nearly keyed Mizzou to a comeback win vs. Northwestern (Nov. 24) in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City's Sprint Center. After trailing by 14 points at the halftime break, Phillips (13) and Puryear (7) combined for 20 points to pull the Tigers within three points with 0:34 left in the game. The Wildcats ultimately pulled out the win, despite the strong second half effort from 

Block Party

• Mizzou sophomore forward Jakeenan Gant has recorded a block in 7-of-8 games and has a team-leading nine so far in the 2015-16 campaign.
• Gant has already surpassed the halfway point of his 2014-15 total (14), which he reached in 23 games.

About Arizona

• No. 13 Arizona (8-1) was picked No. 1 in the Pac-12 Preseason Poll a season after reaching a second consecutive NCAA Elite Eight. The Wildcats lone blemish came at the Wooden Legacy Tournament against Providence, a 69-65 setback in Anaheim, Calif.
• Led by head coach Sean Miller, Arizona has compiled the longest active home winning streak in the nation, which stands at 43 consecutive games at the McKale Center.
• Arizona is powered by standout senior forward Ryan Anderson, who nearly averages a double-double at 15.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Closer Look at the Wildcats

• Arizona have played in front of more than 14,000 people each game at the McKale Center, propelling the Wildcats to a 5-0 home record.
• Miller's squad has outscored opponents by an 11.6 margin, on average. In its most recent home action, Arizona turned away Fresno State (Dec. 9) by a score of 85-72.
• Also scoring in double digits for the Wildcats are senior guard Gabe York and freshman guard Allonzo Trier, who are averaging 13.9 and 13.0 points per game, respectively.