TODAY’S GAMES

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BIG WEST CONFERENCE

Cal State Fullerton (13-7, 7-4) at Long Beach State (4-18, 2-10), 5 p.m., FSNW2 -- Fullerton defeated UC Irvine, 71-70, on Thursday, marking the first time the Titans have won three successive games on an opponent’s court in 30 years. The win also gave them a 1 1/2 -game cushion over fading Idaho for fourth place and a first-round bye in the Big West tournament. Long Beach got a critical home victory over UC Riverside to boost its tournament hopes. The 49ers, now in a last-place tie with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, pulled to within 1 1/2 games of the Highlanders for the eighth and final spot.

UC Riverside (8-13, 3-8) at UC Irvine (10-10, 4-8), 7 p.m., KUCI-FM (88.9), KWRM (1370), KPRO (1570) -- In a matchup of two teams trying to hang on to the final spots in the Big West tournament, Riverside is only 1-9 on the road but faces an Irvine team that is suddenly beatable at home. The Anteaters are 11-9 at the Bren Center the last two seasons after winning 37 of 42 over a three-year stretch. Junior guard Ross Schraeder, who has a league-leading 63 three-point baskets, ranks third in a nation with 49.6% shooting beyond the arc. Riverside, 4-5 since losing center Vili Morton to a season-ending knee injury, has lost five games by six points or fewer.

Cal State Northridge (12-10, 9-4) at Idaho (8-15, 6-6), 7 p.m. -- Northridge fell out of second place with its loss at Utah State, but the Matadors have won 10 of their last 13 games. Playing at Idaho can be a challenge, but Northridge has won two of its last three at the Cowan Spectrum. Senior forward Ian Boylan has at least two steals in 17 consecutive games. The Vandals were 6-2 at home, including 5-0 in conference, until Thursday night when league-leading Pacific pounded them, 78-56.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE

No. 14 Gonzaga (18-4, 8-2) at Loyola Marymount (11-12, 3-7), 6 p.m., FSNW, KXLU-FM (88.9) -- Loyola, playing its final home game of the season tonight, lost a chance to improve its seeding positioning for the WCC tournament after losing for the second time to Portland. Senior point guard Charles Brown is shooting only 29% and the Lions are under 40% from the field in conference play. Since it lost to San Francisco Jan. 20, Gonzaga has won five in a row and averaged 80 points during that span. Center Ronny Turiaf and forward Adam Morrison are the Bulldogs’ leaders, but point guard Derek Raivio is averaging 13.5 points and is one of the nation’s leading free-throw shooters at 90%.

Portland (15-10, 4-6) at Pepperdine (13-12, 3-7), 7 p.m. -- The Waves weren’t expected to defeat Gonzaga on Thursday, but their biggest task ahead is avoiding a letdown after pushing the Bulldogs. Pepperdine Coach Paul Westphal said center Russell Hicks may be available after leaving for his native Canada on Wednesday to attend his grandfather’s funeral. Sophomore forward Cody Horning played for the first time in 14 games after recovering from a concussion and a knee injury. Portland already has its most victories in a season since 1995-96, when it won 19 games and advanced to the NCAA tournament.

-- Eric Stephens

WOMEN

PACIFIC 10 CONFERENCE

USC (16-7, 10-4) at Arizona (16-8, 8-5), 3 p.m. PST, FSNW -- The Trojans played some of their best defense in weeks but were betrayed by their inconsistent offense in losing, 49-45, to Arizona State on Thursday. Now they are again trying to hold off Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA for second place in the Pac-10.

UCLA (15-8, 9-5) at Arizona State (16,7, 8-5), 3 p.m. PST -- A win for the Bruins, who are 6-5 on the road, would make an impression on NCAA tournament committee voters, because the Sun Devils, who beat USC on Thursday, are an excellent home team. If Arizona State wins, however, and Arizona upends USC, it will clump the second-through-fifth spots in the Pac-10 race.

-- Mike Terry