TI JUANA, Mexico (Interstat) — The Tijuana Zonkeys host Ciudad de Mexico on Tuesday night at Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez in a critical CIBACOPA matchup pitting two teams locked in a tight battle near the .500 mark.

Tijuana enters with a 20-20 record, while Ciudad de Mexico sits at 20-21. The game is the first of a back-to-back set; the teams meet again Wednesday at the same venue.

Ciudad de Mexico guard Dayon Griffin has emerged as a consistent scoring threat. In his last outing against the Zonkeys on Friday, Griffin posted 21 points, five rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes during a 110-88 victory. He followed a 14-point, five-rebound effort in an 83-93 loss to Tijuana on Thursday. Over his past eight games, Griffin has averaged 15.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists, with four 20-point performances in that span.

For Tijuana, point guard Omar de Haro is the primary offensive catalyst. De Haro recorded 15 points, three rebounds and three assists in Friday’s defeat. He had 13 points, six boards and five assists in a 108-104 win over Hermosillo on May 6. However, de Haro has been erratic, scoring two points in 10 minutes against Obregon on May 15 and four points in a loss at Jalisco on May 8.

The recent head-to-head series has favored Ciudad de Mexico, which has won three of the last four meetings, including Friday’s 22-point rout. The teams split a two-game set in Ciudad de Mexico on May 21-22, with Tijuana winning the opener 93-83 before losing 110-88. In April, Ciudad de Mexico swept two home games, 100-78 and 94-85. Tijuana swept a March series at home, winning 111-87 and 111-97.

Ciudad de Mexico enters after a 110-88 victory, only its second win in the last six games. The team struggled earlier in May, losing four straight before Friday’s rebound. Tijuana has lost two of its last three, including Friday’s defeat after a 93-80 victory over Obregon on May 16.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. local time. The winner will gain a crucial edge in the standings as the season enters its final stretch.