LYNDONVILLE, Vt. (Interstat) — Johnson State will visit Colby-Sawyer on Saturday for a men’s NCAA Division III basketball game at the MBB VTSU Tip-Off Classic. The Badgers are the visiting team, and the Chargers are the home team. Both teams enter with 0-1 records.

Johnson State will seek its first win after an 82-102 loss at VTSU Randolph in its most recent game. Guard Martin Askenazi is the player to watch for the Badgers. He recorded 20 points, eight rebounds and one assist in 32 minutes. Torian Manguen added 12 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes, while Mitchell Boose contributed 16 points, two rebounds and nine assists in 35 minutes. Johnson State will lean on that backcourt experience as it faces a Colby-Sawyer team also chasing its first victory.

Colby-Sawyer dropped its most recent game 81-91 at Lyndon State. Guard Mike Hills is the player to watch for the Chargers. He scored 22 points and collected seven rebounds in 34 minutes. Will Ehlen added 18 points, two rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes, and Tobey Bellows finished with 17 points, two rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes. The Chargers will look to build on those individual efforts in their home setting.

The contest gives both programs an early opportunity to establish momentum. Johnson State’s recent outing featured productive performances from Askenazi, Manguen and Boose, while Colby-Sawyer’s latest result was paced by Hills, Ehlen and Bellows. The Badgers and Chargers are scheduled to meet again later in the season, but Saturday’s matchup at the VTSU Tip-Off Classic offers an immediate early-season test. Beyond Saturday, Johnson State’s schedule includes Paul Smiths at home and road games at Elms, Amherst and New England College. The Badgers also are set to host Colby-Sawyer and Massachusetts Liberal Arts before later road contests at Lesley, Thomas (Maine), Husson and Maine-Presque Isle. Colby-Sawyer’s upcoming schedule features home games against Lesley, Gordon, Framingham State, Plymouth State, Saint Joseph’s (Maine), Curry and Saint Joseph (CT), along with road matchups at Castleton, Regis (Mass.) and Johnson State.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Johnson State 75, Colby-Sawyer 71. Interstat’s ELO system gives Johnson State a 77.9 percent probability to win.