IRVINE, Calif. (Interstat) — A tightly contested Orange Empire Conference race continues Wednesday when the Irvine Valley Lasers host the Saddleback Bobcats in a men’s junior college basketball rematch.

The game, scheduled for Feb. 4, 2026, pits two teams seeking consistency in the second half of league play. Irvine Valley (12-9 overall) holds a slight edge in the standings over .500 Saddleback (11-11). The Lasers won the first meeting this season, 67-65, on Jan. 9 in Mission Viejo.

That result will likely be on the minds of the Bobcats, who have shown a pattern of alternating wins and losses in their last five games. Saddleback is coming off a 72-66 home loss to Fullerton on Jan. 30, despite a strong double-double from forward Charlie Stallings. The sophomore posted 17 points and 11 rebounds in that defeat and will be a key focus for the Bobcats’ offense.

Irvine Valley aims to snap a three-game skid, most recently a narrow 78-76 road loss at Cypress on Jan. 30. In that game, guard Ahmad Alhammouri erupted for a season-high 28 points. Alhammouri’s scoring prowess has been vital for the Lasers; he tallied 24 points in a close loss to Riverside on Jan. 16 and was instrumental in the team’s earlier win over Orange Coast. However, his production was limited to just five points in the Jan. 9 victory over Saddleback.

The Lasers’ defense, which held Saddleback to 65 points in the first matchup, will need to contain Stallings and backcourt contributors like Christopher Williams, who had 12 points and four assists in the last outing.

Both teams face challenging conference schedules ahead, making this midweek clash critical for momentum. Saddleback visits Riverside on Friday, while Irvine Valley travels to face Santiago Canyon.

Tip-off is set for Wednesday night at Irvine Valley College.