SALINAS, Calif. (Interstat) — A matchup of teams seeking a turning point will unfold Friday night when the Monterey Peninsula Lobos visit the Hartnell Panthers in a California community college men’s basketball game.

Monterey Peninsula (5-11) enters on a three-game skid but is heavily favored against a Hartnell squad (0-14) still in pursuit of its first victory of the season. The game will be the conference opener for both teams.

The Lobos are coming off an 81-75 home loss to De Anza on Jan. 2. Their season has been marked by inconsistency, featuring a narrow 59-57 win over Merritt on Dec. 12 but also a 103-56 road loss to Las Positas on Nov. 21. Guarding the ball has been a persistent issue, as the Lobos have surrendered 80 or more points in seven of their 11 losses.

Hartnell’s struggles have been more profound, losing each game by an average margin of 23.6 points. The Panthers are reeling from a 92-60 defeat to Moorpark on Jan. 2 and a 82-39 loss to Allan Hancock on Dec. 13. Their closest contest was a 70-68 road loss to Porterville on Dec. 6. Offensive production has been a significant hurdle, with the team failing to reach 70 points in nine of its 14 games.

Friday’s contest represents a critical opportunity for each team. For Monterey Peninsula, it is a chance to halt its losing streak and build confidence against a league opponent. For Hartnell, it is perhaps its most viable path yet to breaking into the win column this season.

The two programs will meet again in Seaside on Wednesday, Feb. 4.