BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A rubber match with an NCAA Tournament bid likely on the line awaits when Florida Atlantic and North Texas meet Thursday in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship.

The seed Owls (18-14) and seed Mean Green (18-13) split their regular-season series, with each team winning on its home floor. The most recent meeting, a 73-72 North Texas victory on Feb. 22 in Denton, was decided by a single point and sets the stage for a high-stakes neutral-court finale.

Florida Atlantic enters having snapped a two-game skid with a 63-59 win over Temple in Wednesday’s second round. Guard Niccolo Moretti led the way with 19 points. The junior has been a consistent engine for the Owls, averaging 37 minutes over his last seven games. His playmaking will be critical against North Texas’s staunch defense.

The Mean Green, who earned a bye to the quarterfinals, last played on March 4, grinding out a 62-58 win over Rice. Their success this season has been fueled by guard Je’Shawn Stevenson. He torched the Owls for 29 points in the February win and has scored 15 or more in five of his last six outings, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier scorers.

Both teams have navigated uneven seasons, finishing with nearly identical records in a deep American conference. The matchup pits Florida Atlantic’s offensive balance, which includes key contributors Kanaan Carlyle and Isaiah Elohim, against a North Texas squad that ranks among the national leaders in scoring defense.

The winner advances to Friday’s semifinals and strengthens its case for postseason play. For bubble teams, a victory in this conference tournament is often essential, adding palpable pressure to an already intense rivalry.

Thursday’s contest tips off at Legacy Arena in the afternoon session. The teams have shown they are evenly matched, suggesting another dramatic chapter is imminent in Birmingham.