TONIGHT

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Santa Clara (10-4, 1-0) at Pepperdine (9-6, 1-1), 7, KPLS (830) -- Pepperdine received more bad news Wednesday when it learned that point guard Devin Montgomery will not return this season because his broken right wrist has not healed properly. Montgomery, who was injured Dec. 4 against Cal State Fullerton, is scheduled to have surgery Jan. 28. The Waves previously lost center Will Kimble (heart condition) and forward Glen McGowan (blood clot), meaning they are without three of their top six players for the rest of the season. Gonzaga blew out Pepperdine, 92-72, Sunday at Spokane, an indication that the Waves could struggle to remain a contender in the West Coast Conference with a patched-together lineup. Santa Clara opened WCC play with a 67-65 victory at San Diego and has won seven of its last eight games. Freshman guard Brandon Rohe, a three-point shooting threat, leads the balanced Broncos with a 13-point scoring average.

San Diego (6-8, 0-1) at Loyola Marymount (6-11, 0-2), 7, KXLU-FM (88.9) -- Both teams are trying to pull out of tailspins. Loyola has lost four in a row and eight of its last nine games. San Diego’s five-game losing streak is the longest in nine seasons under Coach Brad Holland. Loyola forward Andy Osborn was a bright spot in losses last week at Gonzaga and Portland, averaging 18 points and eight rebounds. The Lions must contend with San Diego’s physical front line. Center Jason Keep leads WCC players in scoring (17.6) and rebounding (8.7), and forward Jason Blair averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds in the Toreros’ two victories over Loyola last season.

-- Rob Fernas