SAN DIEGO COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

SAN DIEGO STATE (12-9, 4-4) at BYU (16-3, 7-1), 6:30 PST

TV--None. Radio--KFMB (760).

The Aztecs take to the road needing just one victory to better their total in each of the past two seasons (they finished 12-17 in both). But winning tonight will not be easy. BYU leads the WAC and is 11-0 at home. SDSU has won just three of its past 35 WAC road games. The Aztecs are coming off of a big home victory Monday night over Wyoming, 68-59, during which center Marty Dow was again impressive, with 19 points and 10 rebounds. That improved his scoring average to 17.8 over the past six games. BYU, which has a seven-game winning streak, is led by senior guard Marty Haws (20.1 points a game). He and forward Andy Toolson (18.6) have combined for 52.2% of the team’s points. BYU defeated SDSU, 63-60, earlier in the San Diego Sports Arena after overcoming a 12-point first half deficit.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE

PORTLAND (6-13, 3-3) at U. OF SAN DIEGO (8-10, 3-3), 7:30 p.m

TV--None. Radio--None.

One thing is certain: Portland is not to be taken lightly. Despite a poor overall record and dismal 14-61 mark the past 2 1/2 seasons, the Pilots can surprise you. Just ask Pepperdine, which has lost twice to them this season. Why might it otherwise be difficult to take them seriously? Well, consider comments such as one made by Dick Vitale in his preseason college basketball magazine. Next to Portland’s postseason chances, Vitale wrote: “None. Unless 250 schools go on probation.” After one of the WCC’s toughest preconference schedules, Portland is one of four schools tied with USD for second. It defeated USD last year in San Diego, 57-54, to snap a 23-game losing streak. USD then avenged the loss by routing the Pilots in Portland, 53-31. Josh Lowery, a former SDSU player, leads Portland in scoring (15.5-point average). Will McDowell is second (13.6) coming off the bench. John Jerome (18.9 average) is the leading scorer for USD, which has won two of its past three.