ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — A rubber match with significant postseason implications is set for Friday when Northern Iowa and Illinois State meet in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Enterprise Center.

The Panthers (20-12) and Redbirds (20-11), who split their regular-season series, face off on a neutral court with nearly identical records. Interstat’s ELO system gives Northern Iowa a slight edge, projecting the Panthers with a 52.70 percent probability to win.

The matchup features two of the Missouri Valley Conference’s top guards. Northern Iowa’s Trey Campbell is coming off a dominant 23-point, three-assist, three-block performance in a 68-59 win over Evansville on Thursday. In the teams’ most recent meeting, a 71-69 Illinois State victory on Feb. 25, Campbell scored 13 points with five assists.

Illinois State counters with Johnny Kinziger, who scored 14 points in that Feb. 25 win. He followed that with 16 points and six assists in an 81-74 victory over Belmont on Sunday. Kinziger averages 12.1 points per game.

Northern Iowa has won three of its last four, including a 75-53 road win at Drake on March 1. Illinois State has alternated wins and losses over its last five games.

The Panthers’ recent success has been fueled by defense, holding three of their last four opponents under 60 points. Illinois State’s offense, which averages 73.8 points per game, will test that streak. The Redbirds won the first meeting 59-54 on Jan. 21 before the Panthers’ narrow home loss last month.

Friday’s winner strengthens its resume for potential postseason tournament consideration, while the loser faces a more uncertain path. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.