FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging UC Irvine looks to continue its winning ways against a struggling Cal State Fullerton squad as the Big West Conference men’s basketball season heats up Saturday at Titan Gymnasium.

The Anteaters (10-5) enter on a three-game win streak, most recently holding off Cal State Bakersfield 81-77 on Thursday. The Titans (5-9), meanwhile, are looking to rebound from a 110-63 road loss to SMU on Dec. 28.

UC Irvine’s momentum is fueled by guard Jurian Dixon, who is averaging 16.2 points per game over his last five contests. He scored a season-high 26 points in Thursday’s victory. He is complemented by forward Kyle Evans, who notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds against Bakersfield.

Cal State Fullerton will counter with guard Josh Ward, a versatile playmaker who leads the team. Ward is coming off a 16-point, 7-assist performance against SMU and had a 20-point, 6-rebound, 6-assist outing in a win at Denver on Dec. 13. The Titans’ offense has shown potency, scoring 105 and 116 points in wins over Denver and Bethesda, respectively, but consistency has been an issue.

The matchup pits two teams on opposite trajectories. UC Irvine has won four of its last five, with the only loss in that stretch a 26-point defeat to Belmont. Cal State Fullerton has dropped four of its last five, including the lopsided result at SMU.

Historically, the rivalry is closely contested, adding another layer to the conference opener. The teams will meet again in Irvine on Feb. 14.

Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon at Titan Gymnasium. For UC Irvine, the game begins a stretch of four straight on the road. Cal State Fullerton continues a three-game homestand.