BOSTON (Interstat) — A surging Hofstra looks to solidify its standing near the top of the Colonial Athletic Association when it visits struggling Northeastern in a men’s Division I basketball rematch Saturday at Matthews Arena. The Pride (17-10) have won four of their last five games and are coming off a hard-fought 66-70 road loss at UNC Wilmington on Feb. 14. Hofstra previously handled the Huskies (6-18) 80-63 at home on Feb. 5, part of a difficult stretch for Northeastern, which has lost eight of its last nine contests. The Huskies’ most recent outing was a 94-67 home defeat to William & Mary on Feb. 12. Hofstra guard Preston Edmead, a dynamic playmaker, will be a primary focus for the Huskies’ defense. Edmead torched Northeastern for 23 points and eight assists in the first meeting this month. He is averaging 18.4 points and 6.0 assists over his last five games, including a 21-point effort in the loss to UNC Wilmington. Northeastern will counter with guard Xavier Abreu, who scored 16 points in 17 minutes off the bench in the first matchup against Hofstra. Abreu is coming off a season-high 24-point performance in the loss to William & Mary. His scoring punch will be essential for a Huskies’ offense that has struggled with consistency. The game represents a stark contrast in trajectories. Hofstra, battling for a favorable seed in the upcoming CAA tournament, aims to avoid a letdown against a conference foe it defeated handily three weeks prior. Northeastern, mired near the bottom of the standings, seeks a signature home victory to build momentum for the final stretch of the regular season. The Huskies will need a significant defensive improvement after allowing 80 points or more in six of their last nine losses. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Boston. Following this game, Hofstra will host Stony Brook on Feb. 28, while Northeastern travels to face William & Mary on Feb. 26.