LAŠKO, Slovenia (Interstat) — Zlatorog will host Ilirija on Wednesday at Tri Lilije Hall in a matchup of teams looking to build momentum early in the season. Zlatorog enters with a 2-1 record, while Ilirija is 2-3. The home side has won two of its first three games and will try to protect its floor against a visiting team that has shown scoring punch but uneven results.

Zlatorog’s most recent outing was an 86-73 home win over Sencur. Mahmoud Bangura, the team’s player to watch, led the way with 32 minutes, 24 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks. Artese Stapelton added 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, while Taij Pesjak finished with 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. Bangura also had 21 points and 7 rebounds in a home win over Triglav and 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a road loss to Krka.

Ilirija will counter with Stefan Todorovic, who has been one of its most reliable offensive options. In the team’s most recent game, a 76-82 loss to Spartak Subotica, Todorovic scored 29 points in 31 minutes with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block. Cameron Shelton added 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and Hunter Dean had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist. Todorovic also scored 20 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists in a one-point loss to Krka, and he had 18 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in a road win at Triglav. Earlier this season, he posted 12 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists in a win over Velika Gorica.

Ilirija has alternated strong wins with narrow defeats. The team beat Triglav 89-79 on the road and rolled past Velika Gorica 86-59 at home, but it also lost to Krka 82-83 and fell to Dubai 70-85. Zlatorog’s resume includes wins over Sencur and Triglav, plus a 61-77 road loss to Krka.

Zlatorog will look to dictate tempo behind Bangura and a balanced supporting cast. Ilirija will need Todorovic to stay aggressive while getting enough help from Shelton, Dean and the rest of the rotation. The visiting team’s best path is to keep the game close into the fourth quarter and let its leading scorer operate in late-game situations.

A projection model favors Zlatorog by 4 points, with a total around 164. The home court and Bangura’s recent form could be decisive, though Todorovic’s scoring gives Ilirija a chance to keep it close.