STAR CITY, W.Va. (Interstat) — Two Big 12 men’s basketball teams looking to rebound from tough conference-opening losses will meet Tuesday afternoon when the West Virginia Mountaineers host the Cincinnati Bearcats at WVU Coliseum.

West Virginia (9-5, 0-1 Big 12) enters after an 80-59 defeat at Iowa State on Friday. The Mountaineers’ offense stalled, shooting just 36.2% from the field. Chance Moore provided a bright spot, scoring 17 points. The guard has been a consistent scorer, averaging 14.3 points over his last three games, including a 40-minute effort in a double-overtime loss at Ohio State last month.

Cincinnati (8-6, 0-1) also seeks its first league win following a 67-60 home loss to Houston on Saturday. The Bearcats have lost three of their last five, with the defeats coming by a combined 14 points. Forward Baba Miller has been a key all-around contributor, averaging 13.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists over that five-game stretch. In the loss to Houston, Miller posted 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

The matchup pits Cincinnati’s defense, which held Houston to 39% shooting, against a West Virginia team that has struggled offensively against high-major competition. The Mountaineers are 1-4 against power-conference opponents this season, with the lone win coming against Pittsburgh.

This begins a critical early-January stretch for both squads. After this game, West Virginia hosts Kansas on Saturday, while Cincinnati travels to face UCF next Sunday. The teams will meet again in Cincinnati on Feb. 5.

Tuesday’s game will be the first meeting between the programs as Big 12 conference foes. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST.