TODAY

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NONCONFERENCE

Cal State Northridge (6-4) at Washington State (9-1), 2 -- This is the Matadors’ last game before they begin Big West Conference play on Dec. 30. The Matadors have averaged only 72.8 points in their last five games after scoring 90 or more in three of their first five.

Bethune-Cookman (2-5) at Cal State Fullerton (6-2), 6 -- The Titans are off to their best start since 1996-97. They have twice survived three-point attempts at the buzzer that would have turned wins into losses. Bethune-Cookman has lost four consecutive games to Pacific 10 Conference opponents.

Sam Houston State (6-3) at UC Irvine (3-6), 7 -- The Anteaters are at home for the third time this season and haven’t yet lost there. But the road has hurt. Sam Houston State has won four of its last five, including a 92-77 victory over Loyola Marymount on Dec. 6. LMU defeated Irvine last Saturday, 73-65.

Loyola Marymount (7-4) at San Diego State (9-2), 7 -- The Lions should be well-rested after taking a week off. They needed it, after seven games in 18 days. San Diego State started the season 8-0 and ended a two-game skid with a 119-82 victory over Campbell.

Northern Arizona (5-4) at Pepperdine (2-9), 7 -- The Waves have lost three consecutive games and the margins have been five, two and six points. Ruben Boykin, from Los Angeles University High, averages a team-leading 14.6 points for the Lumberjacks.

--PETER YOON

WOMEN

NONCONFERENCE

Houston (2-6) at USC (5-4), 2 -- In their final tuneup before Wednesday’s Pac-10 opener against No. 14 Stanford, the Trojans take on Houston, which opened the season with six consecutive losses. USC beat Prairie View A&M;, 78-53, on Thursday; Houston needed two overtimes to beat Prairie View, 96-90, on Friday.

--JERRY CROWE