OSTEND, Belgium (Interstat) — The BNXT League’s regular season reaches a pivotal juncture Friday afternoon when the Okapi Aalstar visit Oostende at Sleuyter Arena.

Okapi (26-8) holds the league’s second-best winning percentage, while Oostende (27-14) has played five more games and sits a half-game ahead in the overall standings. A win for the visitors would pull them even in the loss column and strengthen their push for the top seed heading into the postseason.

The teams last met Dec. 23, when Oostende edged Okapi 99-97 in overtime at this same venue. That result extended Oostende’s home-court advantage, but Okapi arrives with momentum after a 90-85 victory at Willebroek on Sunday.

Okapi forward Eddie Colbert has been a consistent double-double threat. In his past five games, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 16.0 points and 8.6 rebounds. He posted 14 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday’s win, following a 13-point, 10-rebound outing against Willebroek on May 15. Colbert’s best performance came May 9 against Aris Leeuwarden, when he scored 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in just 25 minutes.

Oostende counters with versatile swingman Marcus Domask, who has averaged 17.8 points over his past four games. Domask produced 22 points and seven rebounds in Sunday’s 77-64 win at Brussels, then dished 10 assists to go with 24 points two nights earlier against the same opponent. He also posted 16 points, four rebounds and five assists in a 84-53 blowout of Brussels on May 9.

Okapi’s backcourt features point guard Dante Maddox, who scored 23 points Sunday, and shooting guard Siebe Ledegen, who added 20 points. The trio of Colbert, Maddox and Ledegen combined for 57 of the team’s 90 points in that game.

Oostende’s supporting cast includes shooting guard Tytan Anderson, who scored 18 points Sunday, and center Max Fiedler, who contributed six points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Okapi has won four of its past five games, with the lone loss coming May 6 at Limburg. Oostende has alternated wins and losses over its last four, beating Brussels twice and falling to Kortrijk and Donar.

Friday’s tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. local time.