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Big West Conference

Pacific (14-2 overall, 9-0 in conference) at Cal State Northridge (9-8, 7-2), 7, KVMD (Ch. 23) -- The most anticipated conference game of the season is a rematch of the 2003-04 tournament final, a 75-73 Pacific victory. Senior swingman Ian Boylan of Northridge is averaging a team-best 14 points, has a team-high 39 steals and also is averaging 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Freshman guard Jonathan Heard is averaging 11.6 points in conference. Riding a 10-game winning streak, Pacific has an experienced cast of players led by forward Christian Maraker, center Guillaume Yango and point guard David Doubley.

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Utah State (13-5 overall, 4-3 in conference) at UC Irvine (9-6, 3-4), 7, KUCI-FM (88.9), KWRM (1370) -- Irvine has won its last three games with point guard Aaron Fitzgerald, the Big West’s assist leader, averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists in that span. Anteater reserves -- center Adam Metelski and guards Davis Baker and Shamar Armstrong -- also have played well. Utah State has been dominating at home but is 1-4 on the road.

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Idaho (7-11 overall, 5-2 in conference) at Long Beach State (2-15, 0-7), 7 -- Long Beach hasn’t won since Dec. 23 when it beat Indiana State in Hawaii. Guard Jibril Hodges has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games, including a career-high 23 Saturday at UC Davis. Point guard Keion Kindred, who has been slowed all season because of a bad knee, will probably miss tonight’s game and Saturday against Utah State as he clears up an academic issue. Idaho forward Anton Lyons has averaged 15 points in conference play.

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UC Santa Barbara (7-9 overall, 4-4 in conference) at UC Riverside (6-10, 2-5), 7, KPRO (1570), KTLK (1340) -- The injury-riddled Gauchos have stayed in position to advance to the Big West tournament by getting unsung play from fifth-year senior point guard Chrismen Oliver. Oliver, a former walk-on who started one game in three seasons, has established career-highs in scoring (10.7), assists (3.0) and steals (31). Riverside is coming off a tough trip that included a close loss at Idaho and a one-sided defeat at Utah State.

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Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (3-13 overall, 1-7 in conference) at Cal State Fullerton (8-7, 3-4), 7 -- Fullerton is trying to stop a three-game losing streak and has the right opponent to do just that in the Mustangs. Cal Poly has lost seven in a row and is winless in seven road games. How much of a factor is the loss of forward Hardy Asprilla, the Titans’ best defender and emotional leader? In the three games since the senior went down with a season-ending knee injury, Fullerton is shooting 37.6% and allowing its opponents to shoot 52.4%.

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-- Eric Stephens

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WOMEN

Pacific 10 Conference

UCLA (12-6 overall, 6-3 in conference) at Oregon (12-6, 5-4), 7 -- After being run over by Stanford, the Bruins ended a three-game losing streak by defeating California. They may have found another offensive option in the process. Sophomore forward Amanda Livingston, who averages 7.3 points, scored a career-high 23 against the Golden Bears. “It bothered her to not have helped out against Stanford,” Coach Kathy Oliver said about Livingston. “She’s a pleaser and wants to do well.” Oregon Coach Bev Smith is stressing ball protection this week. In last week’s losses at Arizona and Arizona State, the Ducks committed 45 turnovers.

USC (13-5 overall, 7-2 in conference) at Oregon State (5-13, 1-8), 7 -- The Beavers have lost eight of their last nine, and their only conference win so far was against winless Washington State. But this is the kind of game the Trojans have to guard against to continue their surprising run through the Pac-10. Coach Mark Trakh is looking for more commitment on defense in the wake of a 36-point loss to Stanford. “We must keep up our defense intensity,” Trakh said. “We can’t afford a night off. And shooting only 37% makes it harder. So we have to make it up in other areas or we’re going to be in trouble.”

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-- Mike Terry