TODAY

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NONCONFERENCE

UC Irvine (2-4) at Utah (3-2), 11 a.m. -- The Anteaters lost all three games at the Anaheim Classic over Thanksgiving weekend, but will have Darren Fells, who was suspended for two games to start the season and came off the bench for the next four, in the starting lineup for the first time. The Utes, under first-year coach Jim Boylen, are playing Irvine for the first time in 10 years.

Long Beach State (1-4) at St. Louis (5-3), 11 a.m. -- The young 49ers are showing signs of improvement, with 46.7% shooting over the last two games, compared with 32.5% in the first three. They scored a season-high 81 points Nov. 21 against Pepperdine. First-year Coach Rick Majerus has instilled a defense-minded system at St. Louis, which is giving up only 61.2 points a game.

UC Riverside (2-4) at Minnesota (3-1), 1 p.m. -- The Highlanders have won consecutive games and are coming off an 85-49 victory over NAIA opponent Hope International that was their largest margin of victory since 2004. Larry Cunningham is averaging 16 points. Former Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith is in is first season with the Golden Gophers, who have three players averaging in double figures.

UC Santa Barbara (6-1) at Loyola Marymount (2-5), 7 p.m. -- The Gauchos have won four consecutive games and are off to their best start since the 1992-93 season. Senior guard Alex Harris was named Big West player of the week last week after averaging 28 points in two games. The Lions, who defeated Mercer last Saturday, are shooting only 39.4% for the season. Freshman Orlando Johnson is averaging a team-high 11.6 points.

-- Peter Yoon

WOMEN

NUGGET CLASSIC

UCLA (3-2) vs. Idaho State (4-2) at Nevada, 7 p.m. -- The Bruins will attempt to shake a two-game losing streak after their best start in 14 years. Five players continue to average double figures in scoring for UCLA, including freshmen Doreena Campbell (12.8), Nina Earl (10.8), Darxia Morris (10.4) and Regina Rogers (10.4). Idaho State Coach John Newlee will become the program’s all-time leader in wins with a victory over the Bruins. Natalie Doma, a 6-3 senior center, is already the team’s career-scoring leader. She’s averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds.

-- Dan Arritt