FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Interstat) — A pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams trending in opposite directions will meet Friday when the Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers visit the Sacred Heart Pioneers at the William Pitt Center. Mount Saint Mary’s (14-15) arrives with momentum, having won four of its last five games, including a dominant 68-47 victory over Canisius on Sunday. The Mountaineers’ recent surge has been fueled by guard Arlandus Keyes, who is averaging 12.9 points and 4.6 assists over his last seven contests. He dished out seven assists in the win over Canisius. Sacred Heart (12-18), meanwhile, looks to halt a two-game skid following a narrow 65-63 loss at Marist last Sunday. The Pioneers have struggled for consistency, dropping five of their last seven. They will lean on guard Nyle Ralph-Beyer, who scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds against Marist and is averaging 15.1 points per game in February. The matchup is a rematch of a Dec. 3 meeting, which Sacred Heart won 87-80 on Mount Saint Mary’s home floor. The Pioneers will aim to replicate that offensive performance and sweep the season series. For the Mountaineers, the game represents a critical opportunity to climb above .500 overall and solidify their standing ahead of the conference tournament. Their defense has been key, holding opponents to an average of 61.2 points during their 4-1 stretch. Sacred Heart seeks to defend its home court and find a winning formula late in the season, relying on Ralph-Beyer and forward Dashon Gittens, who nearly posted a double-double (15 points, nine rebounds) in the loss to Marist. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Friday. Mount Saint Mary’s will conclude its regular season road schedule at Fairfield on Sunday.