LEVELLAND, Texas (Interstat) — A pivotal men’s junior college basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Monday when the No. 7-ranked Howard (Texas) Hawks visit the South Plains Texans at Texan Dome.

Howard (23-4) enters on a seven-game winning streak and holds the upper hand in the season series, having defeated South Plains 91-83 at home on Jan. 29. The Hawks are coming off a dominant 94-53 road victory over Clarendon on Feb. 26, where Elijah Tshibangu, Terry Copeland and Kuai Deng all scored in double figures.

South Plains (20-6), ranked No. 15, looks to defend its home court and avenge that earlier loss. The Texans are riding high after a 97-85 road win at Western Texas on Feb. 26, powered by a career-high 32 points from standout guard Keith Richard.

The contest features a compelling backcourt duel. Howard’s Tshibangu has been a consistent all-around contributor, averaging 6.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists over his last seven games. South Plains will counter with Richard, who is averaging 13.1 points per game this season and is capable of explosive performances, as shown by his recent 32-point outburst.

Both teams boast potent offenses, with Howard averaging 78.6 points per game and South Plains close behind at 78.2 during their current stretches. Howard’s defense, however, has been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 60.7 points during their win streak, while the Texans have allowed 76.2 per game over the same period.

With Howard sitting just one game ahead in the loss column, the result will significantly impact conference standings and seeding for the upcoming Region V tournament. A South Plains victory would create a tiebreaker scenario, while a Howard win would solidify its top position.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. CST. Howard’s next game is at home against Midland on March 5, while South Plains travels to Clarendon the same night.