TONIGHT
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Cal State Fullerton (10-16, 6-11) at Cal State Northridge (11-14, 7-10), 7, KWRM (1370) -- Despite having lost four of its last six and two in a row, Northridge has qualified for next week’s Big West Conference tournament. But Fullerton, which lost to Northridge earlier in the season, needs a win to get one of the final two remaining spots in the eight-team event. According to the conference’s intricate tiebreaker formula, Fullerton could lose tonight and end up in a three-way tie if Cal Poly San Luis Obispo beats Irvine, but the Titans would be the odd team out by virtue of two losses to the Matadors.
-- Paul McLeod
UC Riverside (10-15, 7-10) at Pacific (21-7, 16-1), 7, KPRO (1570) -- Junior center Vili Morton redshirted last season primarily to give the Highlanders a better chance at making the Big West Conference tournament in their first year of eligibility. Morton led them to a berth Thursday night with a game-high 23 points and two critical blocked shots at the end of an overtime victory at Cal State Northridge. Pacific guard Miah Davis twisted his left knee in the Tigers’ win over Cal State Fullerton but is expected to play tonight. The Tigers can clinch a tie with Utah State for the regular-season title.
Long Beach State (6-20, 4-13) at UC Santa Barbara (15-11, 9-8), 7, KRLA (870) -- Gaucho forward Cameron Goettsche, despite playing with a broken left thumb, had 16 points and 11 rebounds in Thursday’s win over UC Irvine. Long Beach State will miss the tournament for the second year in a row as it tries to avoid ending the season on a 10-game losing streak.
UC Irvine (11-16, 6-11) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (10-15, 5-12), 7:30, Fox Sports Net 2, KUCI-FM (88.9) -- Irvine played well for most of Thursday’s game at UC Santa Barbara, but late breakdowns on both ends resulted in a missed opportunity to qualify for the conference tournament. A victory tonight ensures the Anteaters a spot. Cal Poly, led by center Varnie Dennis, forward Shane Schilling and guard Kameron Gray, is making a late push for the eighth and final spot.
-- Eric Stephens