RIETI, Italy (Interstat) — Rieti (6-2) will host Montecatini (1-7) on Wednesday at Palasojourner. Rieti enters on a two-game winning streak, while Montecatini has lost six straight and owns the weaker record in the matchup. Rieti’s most recent result was a 68-63 win at Ruvo Di Puglia. Mihajlo Jerkovic, Rieti’s player to watch, had 14 points and 10 rebounds in that victory. Romello White added 14 points and nine rebounds, and Lorenzo Piccin scored 15. Jerkovic had two points and two rebounds in the previous game against Cremona and played four minutes at Rimini before that. Rieti’s 6-2 start has included wins over Cremona, Brindisi, Pistoia, Vigevano, Reggia JuveCaserta and Ruvo Di Puglia, with losses at Rimini and Forli. Rieti has won six of eight games and will try to set the pace against Montecatini, which has dropped six straight. Montecatini’s most recent result was an 86-71 home loss to Pistoia. Francesco Pellegrino led Montecatini with 15 points and six rebounds, Ion Lupusor added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Federico Burini scored 12. Lupusor, Montecatini’s player to watch, had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Baltur Centu, 10 points and three rebounds at Avellino Basket, and five points and five rebounds at Basket Torino. Montecatini’s lone win this season came at Sassari, but the team has since dropped six consecutive games. Montecatini also has losses to Basket Torino, Baltur Centu, Avellino Basket, Bologna 103, Brindisi, Pistoia and Rimini. The visiting side will need a stronger offensive effort to stay close against Rieti. Montecatini will look to Lupusor and Pellegrino for production while trying to end its losing run. Rieti next plays at Bologna 103, while Montecatini hosts Libertas Livorno in the teams’ next games. White and Piccin have provided support for Jerkovic, giving Rieti multiple scoring options in its recent wins. Pellegrino and Burini have been among Montecatini’s most productive players, but the team has struggled to close out games. The visitors enter with the weaker record and will need to improve their shooting and rebounding to compete on the road. Rieti will try to protect its home court before a challenging stretch of schedule. The game is set for Palasojourner, where Rieti has been more comfortable this season. Montecatini will need a complete effort on both ends. Interstat’s game simulator projects Rieti to win 89-76. Interstat’s ELO system gives Rieti an 88.2 percent probability of winning. Rieti is installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -13.5, and the over/under is 150.