SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — A surging UC San Diego men’s basketball team looks to solidify its standing when it hosts struggling Cal State Bakersfield in a Big West Conference matchup Thursday night at RIMAC Arena. The Tritons (19-9, 8-5 Big West) enter on a three-game winning streak, most recently edging UC Irvine 71-69 on the road Saturday behind 17 points from guard Hudson Mayes. UC San Diego sits in a tight conference race and has won eight of its last eleven. Cal State Bakersfield (8-20, 3-10) aims to halt a seven-game skid. The Roadrunners are coming off an 88-80 home loss to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, where Tom Mark scored 17 points. Bakersfield’s last win was on Jan. 24. Mayes, averaging 18.3 points over his last three games, is the focal point for a balanced UCSD offense. The Tritons have held opponents to an average of 61.3 points during their current win streak. For the Roadrunners, Mark has been a bright spot, averaging 10.3 points and 2.3 blocks over his last four contests. He will need support from backcourt mates Dailin Smith and CJ Hardy, who combined for 37 points in the last outing. UC San Diego won the season’s first meeting decisively, 83-62, in Bakersfield on Jan. 17. The Tritons have dominated the recent series, winning the last four encounters. The game tips off at 7 p.m. PST. UC San Diego hosts Cal Poly on Saturday, while Cal State Bakersfield returns home to face Long Beach State.