RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — Two Big West Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the Cal State Fullerton Titans visit the UC Riverside Highlanders.

The game, scheduled for Jan. 17, 2026, at the UCR Rec Center, features teams with struggling overall records. The visiting Titans enter at 8-10, while the home Highlanders sit at 6-11.

Cal State Fullerton arrives with some confidence after winning two straight conference games, including an 86-79 victory over Cal State Northridge last Saturday. The Titans are led by guard Christian Williams, who has averaged 18.2 points over his last six games. He scored 21 points with four assists in the win over Northridge and had 22 points in a road win at UC San Diego on Jan. 8.

UC Riverside looks to snap a five-game losing streak, with four of those losses by six points or fewer. The Highlanders fell 69-66 to UC San Diego last Saturday, despite a 27-point effort from guard Andrew Henderson. Henderson has been a bright spot, averaging 17.2 points over his last five contests, though his production has been inconsistent.

The Titans’ recent success has been fueled by offense, averaging 83.3 points in their three January wins. Alongside Williams, Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro (17 points) and Bryce Cofield (12 points) were key contributors against Northridge.

Conversely, UC Riverside has struggled to score consistently during its skid, failing to reach 70 points in four of the five losses. Beyond Henderson, support has varied; Tyler Jones scored 17 against UC San Diego, and Osiris Grady added 15 points and two blocks.

Historically, this is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams this season. They will play again at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 5.

The matchup will be a test of Cal State Fullerton’s improving form against a UC Riverside team desperate to reverse its fortunes in front of its home crowd. A win for either side would provide a crucial boost early in the conference schedule.