Arizona basketball ranked No. 19 in AP, USA Today polls

Dec 12, 2016, 3:30 PM

Missouri's Frankie Hughes, right, dribbles around Arizona's Rawle Alkins, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

The Arizona Wildcats moved up a spot from last week to 19th in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls following wins over UC Irvine and Missouri.

The short-handed Wildcats (8-2) beat the Anteaters 79-57 in McKale Center on Tuesday to rebound from a loss in Los Angeles to Gonzaga a game prior. Big men Lauri Markkanen and Dusan Ristic co-led the team with 18 points in that home game.

Freshman perimeter players Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons led Arizona with 19 points apiece Saturday in a 79-60 win against the Tigers in Columbia, Mo.

Arizona hosts Grand Canyon in Tucson this Wednesday and Texas A&M on Saturday.

The top-10 of the AP poll didn’t feature any changes this week, though No. 5 Baylor and No. 6 North Carolina swapped spots in the USA Today rankings.

Saint Mary’s fell to 20th — it was 11th and 12th last week — after losing to UT Arlington 65-51 Thursday before recovering against UC Irvine with an 84-53 win.

Florida State entered the top-25 to No. 23 in both rankings after a win against Florida, which fell out of the polls.

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Missouri head coach Kim Anderson watches his team play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Arizona head coach Sean Miller watches his team play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Missouri's K.J. Walton, left, runs into Arizona's Keanu Pinder, right, as he drives toward the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Missouri's Terrence Phillips, right, dribbles past Arizona's Kadeem Allen, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Arizona's Kobi Simmons, left, loses control of the ball in front of Missouri's Mitchell Smith while K.J. Walton (11) and Dusan Ristic (14) look on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Arizona's Dusan Ristic, left, battles Missouri's Mitchell Smith, right, for a rebound while Jordan Geist (15) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Arizona's Kobi Simmons shoots two of his game-high 19 points during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Arizona's Lauri Markkanen, right, dunks the ball over Missouri's Mitchell Smith, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Arizona's Dusan Ristic, left, is fouled by Missouri's Mitchell Smith, right, as he shoots during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Missouri's Willie Jackson, left, tries to steal the ball from Arizona's Keanu Pinder, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Missouri's Terrence Phillips lays on the floor after getting injured during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Phillips didn't return to the game. Arizona won 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Missouri's Frankie Hughes, right, dribbles around Arizona's Rawle Alkins, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Missouri's K.J. Walton, left, pushes away Arizona's Kobi Simmons, right, as Dusan Ristic, center, looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Missouri's Mitchell Smith, top, dunks the ball over Arizona's Chance Comanche, left, Kadeem Allen, center, and Dusan Ristic, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Missouri's Jordan Geist, left, and Cullen VanLeer, center, double team Arizona's Kadeem Allen, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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