WHITTIER (Interstat) — Willamette and Whittier will meet in a men’s NCAA Division III basketball game on Saturday at Graham Athletics Center in Whittier, Calif. The Bearcats are the visiting team, while the Poets are the home team. Both programs enter the matchup with 0-0 records.

Willamette’s most recent result was a 97-87 loss at Whitworth, and Whittier’s most recent result was an 86-82 loss at Redlands. The Bearcats will look to begin the new season with a road win, while the Poets will try to defend their home court in their opener. The game gives both teams an early opportunity to establish rhythm at the start of the campaign.

Willamette’s schedule will remain busy after the trip to Whittier. The Bearcats are set to visit Pomona-Pitzer, La Verne and Claremont Mudd Scripps before returning home for games against Evergreen State and Colorado College. Other upcoming matchups include a road game at Western Oregon and a trip to George Fox, followed later by home contests against Schreiner, Hardin-Simmons and Cal Prestige.

Whittier’s upcoming schedule includes home games against Puget Sound, Ottawa (AZ), Whitman, California Lutheran, Pomona-Pitzer and West Coast Baptist. The Poets also have road games scheduled at La Sierra and Redlands, along with games in New York against Saint Mary’s (Md.) and John Carroll.

Both teams will be seeking their first result of the season in a matchup that pairs the Bearcats’ road challenge with the Poets’ home opener. Willamette will aim to control the early pace, while Whittier will try to settle in at Graham Athletics Center and build momentum from the opening tip. The Bearcats and Poets will each look to set a positive tone before their schedules deepen later in the season.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Whittier 79, Willamette 77. Interstat’s ELO system projects Whittier with a 64.5 percent probability to win.