LIVERMORE, Calif. (Interstat) — The Las Positas Hawks will host the Contra Costa Comets in a men’s junior college basketball game on Thursday at the Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic.

Las Positas is the home team and Contra Costa is the visiting team for the matchup. Both programs enter the game at 0-0. The Hawks and Comets will be looking to start their seasons with a win in the classic. The game is part of the Tony Costello Tip-Off Classic, which brings the teams together in an early-season men’s junior college basketball setting.

Contra Costa’s most recent previous result was a 63-59 loss to San Mateo. Las Positas’ most recent previous result was a 76-70 loss to Sierra. The Comets will try to reverse that result against a Las Positas team that will have the home court and the support that comes with it. The Hawks will aim to use their home setting to open the event on a positive note. Contra Costa will look to improve on its most recent result, while Las Positas will seek to do the same at home.

The game is one of several early-season opportunities for both teams as they build their schedules and rotations. Contra Costa and Las Positas enter the contest without a win or a loss on the current record, so the matchup will provide an early measure of each team’s form. The Comets and Hawks are both seeking a clean start before moving deeper into their respective schedules. The contest also gives both teams a chance to set a tone before their upcoming games.

Contra Costa’s upcoming schedule includes Fresno City and Sierra at home, American River at home, and Modesto, Santa Rosa, Marin, Merritt, Yuba, Napa Valley and Los Medanos on the road. Las Positas’ upcoming schedule includes Napa Valley, Lassen and Shasta at home, and Hartnell, Monterey Peninsula, Lassen, Siskiyous, Reedley, West Valley and San Francisco on the road. Those future matchups will follow the Tip-Off Classic as both teams continue their nonconference and regular-season work.

Las Positas will rely on its home court in the tournament setting, while Contra Costa will look to manage the road environment and keep the game close. The Hawks will be the home side, and the Comets will be the visiting side in the tournament matchup. The Comets and Hawks will meet in Livermore. The Hawks and Comets both have an opportunity to set an early tone from the opening tip.

Interstat’s game simulator projects Las Positas to defeat Contra Costa by a final score of 82-77.