VALMIERA, Latvia (Interstat) — VEF Riga will visit Valmiera on Saturday at Vidzemes Olimpiskais Centrs in Valmiera, Latvia, for a matchup between two teams with strong early-season records. VEF Riga enters at 9-2, while Valmiera is 7-2. Valmiera will have the home court, with VEF Riga playing as the visiting team.

VEF Riga will look to Mareks Mejeris as a player to watch. Mejeris had 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one block in 34 minutes in VEF Riga’s most recent game, an 84-92 loss at CSM Oradea. In that game, Luis Rodriguez scored 21 points and Jordan Sears added 16. Mejeris also produced 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 29 minutes in a 110-94 win at Neftchi IK. He had 13 points, four rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes at BK Ogre, and eight points, four rebounds and a block in 20 minutes at Tal Tech. He also had three points, three rebounds and a block in 17 minutes against Parnu. Earlier this season, he had 10 points, three rebounds, an assist and a block in 25 minutes against Lok. Plovdiv, eight points, three rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes against Liepāja Triobet, and six points, one rebound, three assists and a block in 16 minutes against Keila KK.

Valmiera will counter with Aminu Mohammed as its player to watch. Mohammed had 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block in 30 minutes in Valmiera’s most recent game, a 77-109 loss at Chalon-Sur-Saone. Verners Kohs and Bryce McBride each scored 18 points in that game. Mohammed had 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block in 30 minutes in an 82-74 win against BC Kalev/Cramo. He also had six points, 10 rebounds, an assist and a block in 20 minutes in an 81-59 win against Latvijas Univ.

VEF Riga’s other recent results include an 89-72 win over Parnu, a 90-70 win at Tal Tech, a 106-83 win over Lok. Plovdiv, an 82-55 win over Liepāja Triobet, a 90-60 win over Keila, a 92-73 win at Ogre and a 104-66 win over Latvijas Univ. Valmiera’s other recent results include an 81-59 win over Latvijas Univ, an 82-74 win over BC Kalev/Cramo, a 91-87 win at Viimsi, a 106-82 win at Keila, a 95-56 win over Keila Basket, a 98-76 win over Ventspils and an 82-73 win at Rigas Juniori. Both teams will be seeking a return to the win column after recent losses.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Valmiera 77, VEF Riga 72. VEF Riga has been installed as the pregame favorite with a spread of minus-2. The over/under for the game is 165.5.