VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — A surging Belmont squad looks to continue its Missouri Valley Conference ascent when it visits a Valparaiso team seeking consistency Wednesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Bruins (18-3, 7-1 MVC) have won seven of their last eight games, including a 78-74 home victory over these same Beacons on Jan. 13. Belmont enters off an 80-69 win over Illinois State last Saturday, where Jabez Jenkins scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds. The junior guard has been a key contributor, averaging 13.4 points over his last seven contests and scoring 17 in the previous meeting with Valparaiso.

Valparaiso (10-10, 4-4) has alternated wins and losses over its past six games, most recently a 69-63 home win over Southern Illinois on Jan. 21. Justus McNair led the Beacons with 17 points in that outing, showcasing his scoring potential. The sophomore guard will need a stronger performance than his one-point effort in the first matchup against Belmont’s staunch defense.

The game is a contrast in season trajectories. Belmont, among the conference leaders, boasts one of the nation’s top records and an efficient offense that averages 77.6 points per game. Valparaiso, hovering at .500, has relied on a tougher defense at home, allowing just 63.3 points per game in its last three contests at the ARC.

For the Beacons, reversing the result from two weeks ago is paramount for building momentum in the league standings. Containing Jenkins and Belmont’s balanced attack, which saw Eoin Dillon add 16 points and Isaiah West dish eight assists last game, will be the primary challenge.

Belmont leads the all-time series 6-2 since both joined the MVC. Wednesday’s tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EST.