DENVER (Interstat) — Two Summit League teams looking to build momentum will meet Saturday when the Denver Pioneers host the North Dakota Fighting Hawks at Magness Arena.

North Dakota (11-12) arrives after a decisive 79-62 road victory at Oral Roberts on Thursday. The Fighting Hawks have won three of their last four conference games, showing improved form after a slow start to the season. Denver (9-12) seeks to rebound from a narrow 82-77 home loss to North Dakota State on the same night.

The matchup features two of the league’s top guards in opposing backcourts. North Dakota’s Eli King enters on a hot streak, averaging 15.1 points and 4.1 assists over his last eight games. The junior guard is coming off an 18-point, 5-assist performance in Thursday’s win. He will be a primary focus for a Denver defense that has struggled at times.

Denver will counter with high-scoring guard Carson Johnson. The senior is averaging 21.4 points over his last seven contests, including a 33-point outburst in a win over Oral Roberts on Jan. 14. Johnson scored 21 points with 5 assists in the loss to NDSU and remains the Pioneers’ most consistent offensive threat.

Both teams have shown offensive potency but have faced defensive challenges. North Dakota’s recent surge has been fueled by balanced scoring, with Zach Kraft (22 points) and Greyson Uelmen (14 points) joining King as key contributors in the latest win. Denver, meanwhile, has relied heavily on Johnson’s creation, though Zane Nelson (20 points vs. NDSU) provides a secondary option.

The game is the first of a regular-season series between the teams, who will meet again in Grand Forks on Feb. 7. With the Summit League standings still taking shape, a win for either side would provide a valuable boost ahead of the February stretch run.

Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. MST Saturday at Magness Arena.