FULTON, Miss. (Interstat) — A struggling Meridian team seeks a desperately needed conference win when it visits a surging Itawamba squad in a men’s junior college basketball matchup Thursday night.

The Meridian Eagles (1-7) enter on a five-game skid, most recently falling 75-70 at East Mississippi on Jan. 22. Their lone victory this season was an 85-64 home win over Mississippi Delta on Jan. 20. The Eagles have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 84.6 points in their seven losses.

They face a steep challenge against the Itawamba Indians (11-6), who have won three of their last four games, including a 79-55 rout of Copiah-Lincoln in their last outing on Jan. 22. Itawamba’s success has been fueled by strong play in the paint and efficient scoring.

A key player to watch is Itawamba’s Kyler Fox, who is coming off a dominant stretch. Fox recorded a 20-point, 16-rebound double-double in a 93-87 win at Northwest Mississippi on Jan. 20, following a 12-point, 12-rebound performance against Northeast Mississippi on Jan. 15. His presence on the boards will be a primary concern for Meridian.

The game presents a classic contrast in trajectories. Itawamba looks to solidify its standing near the top of the conference race and build momentum before a tough road stretch at Pearl River and Jones next. Meridian, meanwhile, is searching for any spark to turn its season around, with a crucial homestand against Coahoma and Northeast Mississippi looming next week.

Tipoff is set for Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at the Itawamba home court. Based on current form, the Indians will be heavy favorites, but the Eagles will aim to defy their record and pull off a road upset to reset their season.