PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — A pivotal Ivy League matchup with postseason implications is set for Friday night when the Penn Quakers host the Dartmouth Big Green at The Palestra. Both teams enter the contest with identical 5-5 conference records, jockeying for position in the league standings. Penn (13-11 overall) holds a slight edge in the season series, having defeated Dartmouth (11-13) 84-74 in Hanover on Jan. 17. The Quakers have been strong at home, winning three of their last four at The Palestra, including a dramatic 61-60 victory over Princeton on Feb. 7. They are led by junior forward TJ Power, who has been a consistent force. Power is averaging 16.3 points and 5.2 rebounds over his last six games, including an 18-point, 8-rebound performance in a narrow 74-70 loss at Yale last Saturday. Dartmouth arrives in Philadelphia buoyed by a last-second 64-63 road win at Columbia, which snapped a three-game skid. The Big Green’s resurgence hinges on forward Brandon Mitchell-Day, who posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against the Lions. Mitchell-Day has scored in double figures in three of his last five outings. Penn’s offense, averaging 75.8 points per game in conference play, will test a Dartmouth defense that has allowed 80 or more points in three of its last six contests. The Quakers’ backcourt, featuring Michael Zanoni who scored 20 against Yale, will be key. Conversely, Dartmouth will look to control the tempo and exploit the interior, where Mitchell-Day and Cameron McNamee (9 points, 7 rebounds vs. Columbia) operate. Guard Connor Amundsen, who dished out eight assists against Columbia, will be crucial in facilitating the offense. With both teams tied in the loss column and only two weekends remaining in the regular season, Friday’s contest is a virtual must-win for Ivy League Tournament seeding. The atmosphere at the historic Palestra is expected to be charged as these ancient rivals clash with their seasons on the line. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.