LEWISBURG, Pa. (Interstat) — Two men’s basketball teams seeking a foothold in the Patriot League will meet Saturday when Bucknell hosts Lehigh at Sojka Pavilion.

Both the visiting Mountain Hawks (4-10) and the Bison (3-11) have struggled through non-conference play and enter the matchup on losing streaks. Lehigh fell 85-78 in overtime to Army on Wednesday, while Bucknell dropped a 65-58 decision at Holy Cross the same day.

The game represents an early chance for either squad to build momentum as league play intensifies. Despite the records, recent performances suggest a competitive contest is likely.

Lehigh will lean on forward Hank Alvey, who has been a consistent offensive force. He scored 21 points with six rebounds in the overtime loss to Army, following a 26-point outing against Long Island on Dec. 6. His ability to score and protect the rim—he has multiple blocks in three of his last four games—will be central to the Mountain Hawks’ plans.

Bucknell counters with guard Pat Curtin, who posted 11 points, four rebounds and three assists against Holy Cross. He will need support from backcourt mate Jayden Williams and sharp-shooter Aleksander Pachucki, who led the Bison with 17 points in their last outing.

The Bison’s defense, which held Rider to 38 points in a Dec. 9 win, will be tested by a Lehigh offense that has shown flashes, averaging over 78 points in its last two games. Conversely, Bucknell’s offense has sputtered, failing to reach 60 points in three of its last four contests.

History and necessity add stakes to this January matchup. With both teams looking up at the rest of the conference, a victory here is crucial to avoid an early deficit in the league standings. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon in Lewisburg.