Today
No. 5 Oregon (5-0) at Pepperdine (3-2), 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports West 2, KPLS (830) -- Pepperdine has won three in a row despite missing several key players. Oregon presents the Waves with their biggest challenge yet. The Ducks are averaging 90 points and nearly 10 three-point field goals a game, led by point guard Luke Ridnour and forward Luke Jackson. Ridnour is averaging 21.2 points and 7.8 assists, and Jackson averages 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals. Oregon defeated Kansas, 84-78, Dec. 7 in Portland. Pepperdine has been forced to juggle its lineup without center Will Kimble (heart condition), forward Glen McGowan (knee injury) and point guard Devin Montgomery (broken thumb). The short-handed Waves still managed to defeat UC Santa Barbara, 72-68, Dec. 7. Forward Jimmy Miggins averages 16.2 points and guard Terrance Johnson averages 15.8 points. Pepperdine is playing a Pacific 10 Conference team at home for the first time since 1985.
Long Beach State (1-5) at Loyola Marymount (4-3), 7:30 p.m., KRLA (870), KXLU-FM (88.9) -- Loyola plays the third of five consecutive games against Big West Conference teams, after losing to UC Irvine and defeating Cal State Fullerton. The balanced Lions are led by sophomore point guard Charles Brown, who averages 10.4 points and ranks first on the team in assists (4.4), rebounding (4.1) and steals (2.1). Long Beach has lost four in a row since beating Cal State Monterey Bay. Guard Tony Darden averages 18.5 points for the 49ers.
-- Rob Fernas
Idaho State (2-4) at CS Fullerton (1-5), 7 p.m. -- This is a good chance for Fullerton, which has played a tougher schedule than the Bengals, to redirect itself after opening the season 1-5 for the third straight season under third-year Coach Donny Daniels. Former Compton Centennial guard Marquis Poole leads the Bengals, who have been idle for 10 days since ending a three-game losing streak with a 72-56 home win over Menlo College. Poole had 10 assists in 20 minutes against Menlo.
San Jose State (3-3) at CS Northridge (4-2), 7 p.m. -- A couple of streaks are on the line. Northridge has won three in a row overall. All of San Jose State’s losses were on the road. Junior forward Oudie Baker leads the Spartans in scoring (15.3 points) and is second in rebounds (5.7). Swingmen Ian Boylan (17.2) and Curtis Slaughter (11.3) lead Northridge in scoring.
UC Santa Cruz (0-5) at UC Riverside (0-2), 7 p.m. -- The Division III Fighting Banana Slugs may provide a slower tempo for UC Riverside, which opened with losses to USC (81-68) and San Diego (84-64). The Highlanders have been idle since Nov. 30. Riverside guard Nate Carter has scored 40 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
-- Paul McLeod
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