SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (Interstat) — Two Big West teams heading in opposite directions will meet Thursday when the Cal Poly Mustangs host the Long Beach State 49ers at Mott Gym. The Mustangs (12-16, 8-6 Big West) enter on a three-game winning streak, including an 86-75 road victory at Hawaii on Feb. 19. They have won five of their last seven to climb the conference standings. Cal Poly is led by guard Cayden Ward, who averaged 16 points over the last three contests and scored 19 in the win over Hawaii. Conversely, the 49ers (8-20, 4-10) are mired in a seven-game losing skid. Their most recent defeat was a 78-76 heartbreaker to Cal State Northridge on Feb. 21, despite a 27-point effort from Shaquil Bender. The sophomore guard has been a bright spot, scoring 20 or more points in three of his last seven games and averaging 16.4 points during that stretch. In the teams’ first meeting this season, Long Beach State secured a 74-66 home win over Cal Poly on Jan. 3. The 49ers will look to replicate that performance and snap their prolonged slump, while the Mustangs aim to continue their late-season surge and avenge the earlier loss. The game tips off at 7 p.m. PST on Feb. 26. Following this contest, Cal Poly travels to face UC San Diego on Saturday, while Long Beach State visits Cal State Bakersfield.