Tonight / MEN

PEPPERDINE (9-6) at PORTLAND (6-7), 7 p.m., KIEV (870)--The Waves open West Coast Conference play against a team that has lost three in a row and five of its last six. The Pilots lost at San Jose State by 22 on Dec. 22. On Saturday, the Waves won by 19 at San Jose State. Pepperdine is led by guard Jelani Gardner, with 12.3 points, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals a game. Portland players are among the conference leaders in steals per game, and Pepperdine is third in the WCC with 17.5 turnovers per game. The Pilots have three players averaging in double figures, led by senior forward Jimmie Rainwater’s 11.7 points per game.