BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to halt lengthy slides and climb out of the Big West cellar will meet Saturday when Cal State Bakersfield hosts Long Beach State.

The Roadrunners (8-20) and visiting 49ers (8-20) have identical records and are tied in the conference standings, having each lost six consecutive games. The matchup at the Icardo Center offers one of them a final opportunity to secure a conference win this month.

Long Beach State won the first meeting this season, 81-75 at home on Jan. 10. In that game, the 49ers overcame a 10-point halftime deficit.

The 49ers are coming off a narrow 78-76 home loss to Cal State Northridge on Feb. 21, their fifth defeat in the last six games by single digits. Guard Shaquil Bender has been a bright spot, averaging 19.3 points over his last three contests. He scored 27 points in the loss to CSUN.

Cal State Bakersfield has struggled defensively during its skid, allowing an average of 86.2 points per game over the last five. The Roadrunners fell 88-80 to Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 21. Forward Tom Mark, who leads the team in blocks, scored 17 points with three blocks in that contest.

Both teams have relied on key scorers to keep games close, but consistent defensive stops have been elusive. With the Big West tournament approaching, Saturday’s game represents a critical chance for either squad to build momentum and escape the conference basement.

The Roadrunners will look to avenge their earlier loss to the 49ers and protect their home court, where they are 5-8 this season. Long Beach State is 2-11 in road games.

Following this contest, Cal State Bakersfield hosts Cal State Northridge on March 5, while Long Beach State returns home to face UC Davis the same night.