MONTEREY, Calif. (Interstat) — The Monterey Peninsula College Lobos will look to sweep the season series and extend their in-state rival’s prolonged losing streak when they host the Hartnell College Panthers in a California community college men’s basketball game Wednesday night.

The Lobos (8-15) enter the contest with momentum from a narrow 70-67 road victory over Cabrillo on Jan. 30. Hartnell (0-19), meanwhile, continues to search for its first win of the 2025-26 season following a 75-46 home loss to San Jose on Jan. 28.

The teams last met on Jan. 9 in Salinas, where Monterey Peninsula secured a 54-38 defensive victory. That result is indicative of Hartnell’s season-long struggles on offense. The Panthers have been held under 40 points in three of their last five games, including a 35-point outing in a lopsided loss to West Valley on Jan. 16.

Monterey Peninsula has shown flashes of competitiveness within the conference, with its recent win over Cabrillo highlighting its potential. The Lobos’ 68-40 rout of Gavilan on Jan. 14 stands as their most decisive performance of the campaign.

For Hartnell, the schedule has offered little respite. The Panthers’ closest call was a two-point, 70-68 defeat at Porterville on Dec. 6. Since then, the losses have largely been by wide margins, averaging a deficit of 32 points over their last four contests.

The matchup pits Monterey Peninsula’s seeking consistency against a Hartnell squad desperate to alter the narrative of its season. The Lobos will aim to leverage their home court and superior record, while the Panthers hope to find an offensive rhythm that has eluded them for months.

Following this game, Monterey Peninsula will prepare to host Gavilan on Friday. Hartnell’s next opportunity for a breakthrough will be at home against Cabrillo, also on Friday.