STONY BROOK, N.Y. (Interstat) — A pivotal late-season Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball matchup is set for Saturday when the Stony Brook Seawolves host the Hampton Pirates at Island Federal Credit Union Arena. The Seawolves (16-11) enter the contest looking to solidify their position in the conference standings and build momentum for the upcoming tournament. They are coming off a 72-69 home victory over Drexel on Monday, led by 21 points from Erik Pratt and 17 from Richard Goods. Stony Brook has shown resilience at home, with recent wins over Northeastern and a double-overtime thriller against College of Charleston in January. Hampton (12-14) aims to play spoiler and climb back to .500, fresh off a heartbreaking 71-70 road loss to North Carolina A&T on Feb. 13. The Pirates have demonstrated an ability to compete, with recent wins over William & Mary and a double-overtime victory against Elon. A key storyline will be the rematch of a Dec. 29 meeting, which Hampton won 62-59. The Pirates will rely heavily on forward Xzavier Long, who is coming off a strong 17-point, 6-rebound performance in the loss to North Carolina A&T and recorded a 14-rebound double-double against William & Mary on Feb. 7. Stony Brook will counter with guard Andrej Shoshkikj, a consistent offensive threat who scored 19 points in a win at Campbell on Jan. 29 and 17 points in a victory at Elon on Jan. 31. His backcourt battle with Hampton’s Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt, who had 17 points and 4 assists in the last outing, will be critical. The Seawolves hold the edge in overall record and have been strong on their home floor. However, Hampton’s recent head-to-head victory and its capacity for tight games, having played in four overtime contests this season, suggest a competitive affair. Stony Brook’s offensive firepower, which includes four players scoring in double figures in its last win, will be tested by a Hampton team fighting to keep its season alive. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 21.