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TONIGHT

MEN

UC Santa Barbara (9-4, 3-1) at Cal State Northridge (3-9, 2-1), 5:30, Fox Sports Net 2--This is the first Big West Conference game between the teams, which have not met since Northridge’s 75-58 victory in December 1996. Santa Barbara leads the series, 17-4. Senior point guard Markus Carr leads the Matadors with averages of 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.1 steals. Forwards Mark Hull and Branduinn Fullove are the Gauchos’ leading scorers with averages of 15.9 and 14.7.

Rob Fernas

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Long Beach State (5-9, 1-2) at Idaho (3-10, 0-4), 7, KRLA (870)--This is a key game for the 49ers if they want to challenge for the conference title. Inconsistency has plagued Long Beach, which rebounded from a loss to UC Riverside with a victory over Cal State Fullerton. Senior guard Ron Johnson is averaging 12.5 points and is fifth in the Big West in steals with 25. Idaho guard Justin Logan played all 80 minutes in the Vandals’ games against UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo last week.

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UC Irvine (10-4, 3-0) at Utah State (11-2, 3-1), 8, ESPN2, KUCI-FM (88.9)--In a pivotal conference matchup, the Anteaters must prove they can win in one of the toughest arenas. The Aggies have won 31 in a row at home and 76 of their last 79, including a 67-52 victory over Irvine last season.

Eric Stephens