RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging Cal State Northridge squad looks to continue its push toward the top of the Big West standings when it visits struggling UC Riverside on Saturday.

The Matadors (18-10, 11-4 Big West) enter the 7 p.m. PST tipoff at the UCR Rec Center having won seven of their last eight games, including a dramatic 78-76 road victory at Long Beach State last Saturday. UC Riverside (9-20, 4-11) seeks to halt a two-game skid and improve its position ahead of the conference tournament.

Northridge, which sits in second place in the league, is powered by guard Josiah Davis. The standout is averaging 21.3 points and 8.2 assists over his last six contests. He torched UC Santa Barbara for 31 points on Feb. 19 and posted a near triple-double with 21 points and nine assists in the win over Long Beach State.

The Highlanders will counter with high-scoring guard Andrew Henderson, who is averaging 23.1 points over his last seven games. Henderson erupted for a season-high 39 points in a loss to Cal Poly on Jan. 31 and scored 26 in a rout of Cal State Bakersfield on Feb. 19.

In the first meeting this season on Feb. 7 in Northridge, the Matadors secured an 88-74 victory. Davis filled the stat sheet with 17 points and eight assists, while Henderson was held to 12 points for Riverside.

The Highlanders have struggled at home recently, losing three of their last four at the Rec Center. Cal State Northridge has been strong on the road in conference play, boasting a 6-2 record away from home.

A win would bolster Northridge’s case for a potential at-large postseason bid and keep pressure on the conference leader. For UC Riverside, the game represents an opportunity to play spoiler and build momentum before closing the regular season next week at Hawaii.