The Lincoln Blue Tigers and the Fort Hays State Tigers are in similar situations - needing conference victories.
The stakes for both are high this afternoon as they meet in MIAA action at Jason Gym. Game time is 3 p.m.
Lincoln (9-14) enters today alone in eighth place in the conference standings with a record of 6-8. Fort Hays State (12-11), winners of four straight MIAA games, is tied with Pittsburg State for ninth at 5-9. The top 10 teams qualify for the MIAA Postseason Tournament, scheduled for next month in Kansas City.
Four men's teams - Northwest Missouri, Missouri Southern, Rogers State and Missouri Western - have already qualified with five conference games remaining.
Fort Hays State picked up its first conference road win of the season Thursday night, defeating Central Missouri 65-50 in Warrensburg. Perry Carroll, Calvin Harrington, Jared Vitztum and Jake Hutchings all scored 11 points in the victory.
Vitzum paces the Tigers in scoring this season at 13.6 points per game.
Fort Hays State has won its last four conference games by an average margin of 11 points.
Lincoln defeated Nebraska-Kearney 64-61 in conference action Thursday night. Jonell Burton totaled 17 points to pace the Blue Tigers, while Jordan Notch added 13.
It is Lincoln's final home game of the season. Five seniors - Jonell Burton, Marcel Burton, Zack Fields, DJ Ward and L'Kielynn Taylor - will be honored before the game.
After today, the Blue Tigers have four conference games remaining, starting Tuesday night at Central Missouri.
Action today will start with the women's game at 1 p.m.
Lincoln (3-20, 0-14) is looking to snap a 12-game losing streak, while Fort Hays State (17-6, 8-5) can take one step closer to a conference tournament berth with a victory.
Fort Hays State has won nine straight games against Lincoln and is 12-1 in the all-time series.
Both teams dropped decisions Thursday. Lincoln lost 60-52 to Nebraska-Kearney at Jason Gym, while Fort Hays State fell 76-69 to Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
Today is Senior Day for Lincoln and three Blue Tigers - Kaloni Pryear, Kyessence Collins and Alecia Gulledge - will be honored before the game.
Lincoln will return to action Tuesday night at Central Missouri.