SANTA ANA, Calif. (Interstat) — A key Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball rematch is set for Wednesday when the Santa Ana Dons host the Irvine Valley Lasers.

The Dons (18-7 overall) enter with the superior record and won the first meeting this season, 75-63, at Irvine Valley on Jan. 23. The visiting Lasers (14-11) will look to avenge that loss and build momentum for the postseason push.

Santa Ana has struggled recently, losing four of its last five games. That skid includes a 77-61 home loss to Riverside last Thursday. Christien Jimenez leads the Dons and is a player to watch. The guard posted a near triple-double in the January win over Irvine Valley, finishing with 6 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. In the recent loss to Riverside, he had a team-high 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Irvine Valley has been inconsistent but is coming off a dominant 97-58 victory over Orange Coast last Thursday. The Lasers are led by guard Sam Meza-Tallada, who exploded for 21 points and 5 assists in that win. His performance will be critical; in the Jan. 23 loss to Santa Ana, he scored 10 points.

Beyond the head-to-head result, the teams have followed similar paths in conference play, with both suffering losses to powers like Saddleback and Fullerton. This matchup could prove pivotal for seeding in the upcoming California Community College Athletic Association playoffs.

The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. PST tipoff on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Santa Ana College.