SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Interstat) — A pair of teams looking to establish early momentum in Conference USA play will meet Friday night when the Missouri State Bears host the UTEP Miners at JQH Arena.

The Bears (7-5) enter the new year on a three-game winning streak, most recently stifling Delaware 61-43 on the road Monday. Defense has been key during the run, holding opponents to an average of 56.7 points over the stretch. Forward Keith Palek has been a consistent force, averaging 14.3 points and 8.0 rebounds over the last four games, including a 27-point outing in a narrow win over Oral Roberts.

Conversely, the Miners (4-8) seek to halt a four-game skid. They are coming off a 75-63 loss at Louisiana Tech on Monday, a game where they trailed by just two at halftime before fading. Guard Kaseem Watson has been a bright spot, scoring in double figures in four of the last five contests. He leads UTEP with 16 points in their most recent outing.

The matchup presents a contrast in trajectories. Missouri State has found a formula with balanced scoring and defensive intensity, while UTEP has struggled to close games, with three of their last four losses coming by single digits. The Bears will look to exploit their home court advantage, where they are 5-2 this season. UTEP, 0-5 in true road games, must find answers away from El Paso to reverse its fortunes.

This game marks the conference opener for both programs. The teams are scheduled for a rematch in El Paso on Jan. 24.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EST Friday at JQH Arena.