Schedule Takes on Local Flavor With Northridge, Loyola on Tap

UCLA begins a stretch of three home games against teams that should be overmatched, but the Bruins are also aware that two of the opponents will have extra motivation because of the chance to beat the local power.

Cal State Northridge is up tonight and Loyola Marymount comes in Dec. 29. The game in between is Wednesday against American.

“The majority of the kids on those rosters grew up in Southern California and went to high school in Southern California and would love the opportunity to play UCLA,” Bruin Coach Steve Lavin said. “Because of that, it’s a natural, built-in motivational edge for the underdogs.”

Said Travis Reed, a Bruin sophomore from Fontana: “A lot of those guys, we’ve grown up with. They want those schools to beat bigger schools like us. We know it can make their season. They’re going to play like it’s the Super Bowl.

“We’ll just try to match their intensity and play as hard as they do. If we don’t, they might have a chance to stay with us.”

Tonight vs. Cal State Northridge

7:30, Fox Sp. West 2

Site--Pauley Pavilion.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--UCLA 5-2, Northridge 6-3.

Update--Rico Harris, the Matadors’ much-hyped transfer from Arizona State and Los Angeles City College, has sat out the last three games and is questionable for tonight because of a hip pointer. He was also suspended Nov. 17 at Tennessee for violating a team rule, disappointing numerous NBA scouts who had come to see Harris against competition outside the Big Sky Conference. Northridge center Brian Heinle has averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds the last four games, during which time he was named MVP of the Power Bar Tournament in Hawaii and the Cougar Classic in Utah. He’s at 14.6 points and 7.7 rebounds overall.