TOLEDO, Ohio (Interstat) — A pair of Mid-American Conference teams heading in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Toledo Rockets host the Ball State Cardinals at Savage Hall.

Toledo (11-10) looks to steady itself after dropping four of its last five games, most recently an 81-91 road loss to Akron on Tuesday. The Rockets have relied heavily on the backcourt duo of Sonny Wilson and Leroy Blyden. Wilson is coming off a 22-point, 8-assist performance against the Zips and has averaged 38 minutes per game over his last seven contests. His playmaking will be central against a Ball State defense that has shown recent improvement.

Ball State (7-13) enters with a flicker of momentum, having won three of its last four after a six-game skid. The Cardinals are coming off a 58-53 home win over Northern Illinois last Saturday, fueled by Davion Hill’s 18 points and 8 rebounds. Hill has been a consistent offensive bright spot, scoring 15 or more points in five of his last eight games. His backcourt partnership with Armoni Zeigler, who also scored 18 against NIU, gives the Cardinals a fighting chance.

The Rockets won the first meeting this season, 84-79, in Muncie on Dec. 2. Toledo’s offensive firepower, averaging over 78 points per game, will test a Ball State squad that has struggled to score consistently, being held under 60 points twice in January.

For Toledo, protecting home court is crucial to stay in the upper half of the MAC standings. For Ball State, the matchup represents an opportunity to build a rare winning streak and climb out of the conference cellar. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 31.