CLARENDON, Texas (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Thursday night when the surging Howard (Texas) Hawks visit the struggling Clarendon Bulldogs in a men’s junior college basketball game at Bulldog Gym.

The Hawks (22-4) enter as one of the region’s top teams, having won 10 of their last 11 games. Their most recent outing was a nail-biting 82-81 home victory over Odessa on Monday, powered by a double-double from standout forward Dace Pleasant. The Bulldogs (4-18), meanwhile, are mired in a seven-game losing skid, most recently a 77-57 road loss to Western Texas.

Howard, which boasts a deep and balanced roster, previously handled Clarendon with ease, winning 83-64 at home on Jan. 27. Pleasant, a consistent force for the Hawks, is averaging 12.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game over his last seven contests. He is coming off a 17-point, 11-rebound performance against Odessa, where Terry Copeland added 19 points and Brandon Ivery scored 14.

Clarendon will lean heavily on guard KD Davis, who has been a bright spot during the difficult season. Davis has averaged 17.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists over his last five games, including a 24-point, 9-rebound effort in a close loss to New Mexico on Feb. 16. His backcourt mate, Jamari Briggs, is coming off a 17-point game against Western Texas.

The matchup pits Howard’s high-powered offense, which has scored 80 or more points in eight games this season, against a Clarendon defense that has allowed 77.6 points per game during its current losing streak. The Hawks’ defense has also been formidable, holding opponents under 60 points three times in February.

For Clarendon, the game represents an opportunity to halt its slide and pull a major upset at home. For Howard, it is a chance to solidify its standing and avoid a letdown against a conference opponent before a key rematch with South Plains on March 2.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.