TONIGHT

MEN

Loyola Marymount (6-9, 0-0) at Gonzaga (9-5, 0-0), 7, KXLU-FM (88.9) -- Loyola staggers into West Coast Conference play after losing to NAIA-affiliated Point Loma, 73-71, Monday. It was the Lions’ sixth defeat in seven games. They have lost 15 in a row to Gonzaga, which has not lost at home to Loyola since 1991. Gonzaga had its 29-game home winning streak ended by St. Joseph’s, 79-78, in overtime Dec. 31. The Bulldogs have the most formidable front line in the WCC, led by senior center Cory Violette and sophomore forward Ronny Turiaf. Junior guard Blake Stepp runs the show for the defending WCC champions, averaging 15.4 points and a conference-best 6.1 assists.

Pepperdine (8-5, 0-0) at Portland (7-6, 0-0), 7, KPLS (830, 9 p.m.) -- Pepperdine played most of its nonconference schedule without three of its top six players, yet still managed to win two tournaments (Stanford, New Mexico). Center Will Kimble (heart condition) and forward Glen McGowan (blood clot) are probably out for the season. Point guard Devin Montgomery (broken thumb) could return next week. The Waves have relied on senior forward Jimmy Miggins, averaging 17.5 points and 4.4 assists, and sophomore guard Terrance Johnson, who leads WCC players with 34 three-point baskets. Portland has lost eight in a row to Pepperdine.

-- Rob Fernas

UC Santa Barbara (4-8, 1-1) at Idaho (5-6, 1-1), 7, KEYT (1250) -- Idaho has won two of its last three games. Santa Barbara, the coaches’ preseason pick to win the Big West Conference title, has lost six of its last seven. Santa Barbara’s leading scorer, Branduinn Fullove (16.1 points), sat out the first two conference games because of a groin injury and remains questionable tonight.

Long Beach State (1-9, 0-1) at UC Riverside (1-7, 0-1), 7, KPRO (1570), KRLA (870) -- One team will emerge with its first Division I victory of the season. Long Beach, which has lost eight in a row, got its win under first-year Coach Larry Reynolds against the NAIA’s Cal State Monterey Bay. UC Riverside, which has lost five in a row, defeated NCAA Division III UC Santa Cruz.

-- Paul McLeod

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WOMEN

USC (6-8) at No. 21 UC Santa Barbara (8-2), 7 -- The Trojans have lost six of eight and haven’t beaten a ranked team since defeating then-No. 19 Colorado State on Nov. 17. It won’t be easy to beat the Gauchos, who extended their home-court winning streak to 15 games Tuesday with a 73-41 victory over Cal State Northridge. USC won the last meeting, 60-55, on Nov. 24, 2000, but is 9-11 lifetime against Santa Barbara.

-- Mike Terry