ODESSA, Texas (Interstat) — The Odessa College Wranglers, riding a strong home-court advantage, will look to solidify their playoff positioning when they host the struggling New Mexico Military Institute Broncos in a men’s junior college basketball matchup Thursday night.

The Wranglers (17-8) enter the contest at the OC Sports Center with a clear edge in the standings over the Broncos (11-15). Odessa has won two of its last three, including a decisive 85-68 road victory over Frank Phillips on Feb. 19. Their most recent outing was a narrow 82-81 loss at Howard (Texas) on Monday, where Jakeel Registe scored a team-high 24 points.

Registe, a key player to watch for Odessa, has shown explosive scoring potential, dropping 24 points in that loss after a more subdued stretch in prior games. His performance could be pivotal against a New Mexico Military defense that has allowed an average of 73 points per game during its recent 2-6 skid.

The Broncos snapped a six-game losing streak with an 83-55 road win at Frank Phillips on Monday. Guard Taye Williams led the way with 20 points in that victory, continuing a trend of high-volume scoring. Over his last seven games, Williams has averaged over 16 points, including a 25-point effort in a loss to Midland on Feb. 19. His offensive output will be crucial for the Broncos to keep pace.

Odessa won the first meeting this season, 91-50, at home on Jan. 19. The Wranglers have been strong in Odessa, boasting a 10-2 record at the OC Sports Center this season. New Mexico Military is 4-9 in true road games.

The rematch is scheduled for March 7 in Roswell, New Mexico, but Thursday’s focus is on the Wranglers maintaining their home dominance and the Broncos seeking to build momentum from their rare recent win. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CST.