IRVINE, Calif. (Interstat) — A critical Big West Conference matchup with postseason implications is set for Saturday when the UC Irvine Anteaters host the UC San Diego Tritons at the Bren Events Center. Both teams enter the Feb. 21 contest with nearly identical records and plenty to prove. The Tritons (18-9 overall) hold a slight edge in the standings over the Anteaters (17-9), adding high stakes to the league showdown. The game is a quick rematch of a tense Jan. 24 meeting, which UC Irvine won 61-59 on UC San Diego’s home floor. That result is sure to fuel the visiting Tritons, who have won three of their last four games, including a 72-66 victory over UC Riverside on Feb. 14. UC San Diego will lean on guard Hudson Mayes, who is coming off a standout 24-point, four-assist performance in the win over UC Riverside. Over his last three games, Mayes has averaged 18 points, demonstrating his role as a primary offensive catalyst. UC Irvine counters with its own potent scorer in Andre Henry. The guard poured in 19 points in just 24 minutes during the Anteaters’ 86-65 rout of Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 14. Henry also scored 12 points in the first victory over the Tritons this season. The Anteaters have been strong at home, while the Tritons look to avenge their narrow January loss. With the conference tournament seeding on the line, the matchup promises a tightly contested battle between two of the Big West’s top teams. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST at the Bren Events Center.