SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — A surging UC San Diego men’s basketball team looks to solidify its standing and complete a regular-season sweep when it hosts Cal Poly in a Big West Conference matchup Saturday at RIMAC Arena.

The Tritons (19-9, 11-5 Big West) enter the contest winners of three straight and six of their last eight, positioning themselves near the top of the conference. The Mustangs (12-16, 7-9), meanwhile, have shown recent resilience, winning three of their last five, including an 86-75 road victory at Hawaii on Feb. 19.

UC San Diego won the first meeting this season, 65-67, at Cal Poly on Jan. 1. The Tritons will aim for a repeat performance behind guard Hudson Mayes, who has been a consistent offensive force. Mayes is averaging 18.3 points over his last three games, including a 24-point effort in a win over UC Riverside on Feb. 14.

Cal Poly counters with its own hot hand in guard Cayden Ward. He is coming off a 19-point performance in the win at Hawaii and has averaged 16 points over his last three contests. Forward Hamad Mousa, who scored a team-high 24 points in that Hawaii game, provides an additional scoring threat for the Mustangs.

The game pits contrasting trajectories. UC San Diego, in its fourth season of full Division I eligibility, is building toward its first Big West title and NCAA Tournament berth. A win would bolster its seeding for the upcoming conference tournament. Cal Poly, which has not had a winning season since 2013, is playing for momentum and a potential middle-tier tournament seed.

Defense may be the key. The Tritons have held opponents under 70 points in four of their last five wins. The Mustangs, however, have scored 86 or more points in three of their last four victories, suggesting an intriguing clash of styles.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST on Saturday, Feb. 28. Following this game, UC San Diego travels to face Cal State Fullerton on March 5, while Cal Poly hosts UC Irvine on the same date.