LEE, N.H. (Interstat) — Two America East men’s basketball teams looking to build momentum will meet Saturday when the New Hampshire Wildcats host the Albany Great Danes at Lundholm Gym.

Both squads enter with nearly identical records, as Albany sits at 7-13 overall and New Hampshire at 6-12. The matchup represents a critical opportunity for either team to gain ground in the conference standings.

Albany arrives after a narrow 52-49 road loss at Maine on Thursday, a game in which guard Abdoulaye Fall logged 38 minutes and scored 16 points. Fall has been a key figure for the Great Danes, averaging over 12 points per game in his last five contests, including a 16-point, 4-rebound, 3-assist performance in a win over Vermont on Jan. 19. Albany had won three straight conference games prior to the Maine loss.

New Hampshire comes in with confidence following an 88-82 home victory over Binghamton on Thursday. The Wildcats have shown resilience, having also secured a decisive 65-48 win at Maine on Jan. 19. Guard Tyler Bike has been a contributor for New Hampshire, posting 10 points and four assists in that win over the Black Bears.

The game will be the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams this season, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 28 in Albany. The Wildcats will look to protect their home court, where they are coming off a high-scoring conference win. The Great Danes aim to bounce back from a tough offensive outing and recapture the form that fueled their recent three-game winning streak.

Player matchups like Albany’s Fall against New Hampshire’s backcourt, featuring Bike, could prove decisive in what projects to be a closely contested league battle.