BALTIMORE (Interstat) — Two men’s basketball teams seeking a foothold in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will meet Saturday when the Morgan State Bears host the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Hill Field House.

The matchup features teams with a combined 5-26 record this season. Morgan State (3-12) enters following a 66-49 road loss to Maryland-Eastern Shore last Saturday. South Carolina State (2-14) snapped a five-game skid with a 58-57 home victory over Howard on Jan. 3.

The game will hinge on the performance of each team’s standout scorer. South Carolina State is led by guard Jayden Johnson, who is averaging 20.4 points per game over his last five contests. He scored 24 points in the win over Howard and poured in 25 in a road loss at then-Tennessee on Dec. 30.

Morgan State will counter with forward Alfred Worrell, who is coming off a 15-point, six-rebound performance against UMES. Worrell has shown explosive scoring ability, registering a season-high 32 points in a 92-55 win over Penn St. Brandywine on Dec. 30.

Both teams have struggled defensively. The Bulldogs have allowed 90 or more points in five games this season, including a 105-54 defeat at Tennessee. The Bears have surrendered 92 points or more in four of their losses, including a 97-50 defeat at California.

Saturday’s contest opens a critical stretch of MEAC play for both programs as they look to climb the conference standings. Morgan State will host North Carolina Central on Monday, while South Carolina State travels to face Coppin State on Jan. 12.

Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST at Hill Field House on the campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore.