Zeke Nnaji stays perfect in Arizona’s win over New Mexico State

Jacob Snow-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe Zeke Nnaji will never miss again?

The 6-foot-11 freshman had 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, running his consecutive field goal streak to 17, as the Arizona Wildcats demolished New Mexico State 83-53 on Sunday afternoon at McKale Center.

Nnaji paced an offense that shot 52.6 percent overall and were 10 of 21 from three, averaging 1.24 points per possession. He was also huge on the defensive end as Arizona held NMSU to 32.7 percent shooting, forced 20 turnovers and blocked six shots.

Jemarl Baker Jr. scored 16, making 4 of 6 threes, and Nico Mannion added 15 points 5-of-7 shooting as the Wildcats (4-0) won by 20-plus for the fourth straight game on coach Sean Miller’s 51st birthday.

Arizona opened the game on a 10-0 run, keeping NMSU (2-2) off the scoreboard for the first 5:20 as the Aggies missed their first six shots. But as soon as the Wildcats started to sub NMSU found its footing, going on an 8-0 run (against five reserves) to trail 15-12 with 11:31 left.

Miller called a timeout and got some starters back in, and that resulted in a 10-2 run with Arizona making all five of its shots on one end and blocking two shots while forcing three turnovers on the other.

Mannion picked up his second foul with 7:25 left in the first half and then Chase Jeter was called for his third only 13 seconds later, but this time there wasn’t any dropoff with the reserves. Arizona outscored the Aggies 18-7 over the final 6:14, ending the half on an 11-0 run.

The Wildcats got the lead to 30 early in the second half and kept it there, never leading by fewer than 27 over the final 16:09.

Arizona returns to action Thursday night at McKale against South Dakota State, continuing a season-opening six-game homestand.

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