EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — A pair of Southland Conference rivals seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders visit the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros at UT Pan Am Field House.

Both teams enter the Jan. 3 matchup looking to build on narrow results from their conference openers on Wednesday. The Islanders (6-7) opened league play with an 83-69 win over New Orleans, while the Vaqueros (5-8) fell 71-69 to Nicholls State.

The game features two of the conference’s top guards. Islanders sophomore Mason Gibson is coming off a season-high 22 points in the win over New Orleans, adding three rebounds and a block in 24 minutes. Over his last three games against Division I competition, Gibson is averaging 17.3 points.

For UTRGV, junior Jaylen Washington is a dynamic playmaker. He nearly powered the Vaqueros to a win against Nicholls State, finishing with 17 points and six assists. In his last five games, Washington has dished out 23 assists.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has found success recently against a mixed schedule. Following a three-game skid that included losses to Stephen F. Austin, Oklahoma State and Kansas, the Islanders have won four of their last five, though three of those victories came against non-Division I opponents. Their defense has been a key, holding opponents under 70 points in four of those five contests.

UTRGV’s season has been marked by close losses. Four of their eight defeats have come by six points or fewer, including the two-point loss to Nicholls State and an overtime loss to Texas-Arlington. The Vaqueros have shown offensive firepower, scoring 83 points or more in three of their five wins.

The Islanders hold the better overall record, but UTRGV will have the home-court advantage in the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this season. They will meet again in Corpus Christi on Jan. 26.

Following this game, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi visits Houston Christian on Monday, Jan. 5. UTRGV remains at home to host Incarnate Word that same night.