Preview: Bishop State Wildcats at Shelton State Buccaneers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging Bishop State team will look to avenge a recent loss when it visits first-place Shelton State in a key men’s junior college basketball matchup Thursday night.

The Wildcats (9-11) enter on a five-game winning streak, their longest of the season, highlighted by a 118-86 rout of Southern Union State on Sunday. That streak started just one day after a 101-86 home loss to these same Buccaneers on Jan. 24.

Shelton State (14-6), which sits atop the conference standings, aims to rebound from a 77-70 road loss at Calhoun on Monday that snapped a three-game win streak.

Bishop State’s resurgence has been fueled by high-powered offense, averaging 105.2 points during its streak. Sophomore forward Maylon Martes has been pivotal, erupting for 32 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes against Southern Union. In the five wins, he has averaged 14.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats boast other potent scorers. In Sunday’s win, Tramello Carter added 27 points and eight rebounds, while Vophcy Prophete contributed 23 points.

The Buccaneers counter with their own interior force in Shah Hall, who posted a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds in Monday’s defeat. Guard King Larkin leads the team in scoring, averaging 17 points in recent play.

In the January meeting, Shelton State’s balanced attack and defense proved decisive. Containing Bishop State’s explosive offense, which has topped 100 points in four of its last five games, will be the primary task for the Buccaneers’ defense.

A win would solidify Shelton State’s hold on the conference lead, while Bishop State seeks to continue its climb up the standings and prove its hot streak is no fluke against the league’s best.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. CST at Umphrey Center on the Shelton State campus.