TODAY’S GAMES

No. 5 UC Irvine (13-17) vs.

No. 8 UC Riverside (7-23), 6 p.m.

* Watch for: Irvine’s defense wore down as the season wore on. The Anteaters gave up only 63.3 points a game through their first 19, but closed the season losing seven of 11 games when they gave up 75.1 points a game. Riverside started the season 3-17, including a 15-game losing streak, but was 4-6 over the last 10 games, with two of the losses coming by five and two points.

No. 6 Cal State Northridge (14-16) vs.

No. 7 Pacific (11-18), 8:30 p.m.

* Watch for: Thomas Shewmake, Northridge’s 6-foot-10 center, has averaged 15.7 points and 10.7 rebounds over the last seven games -- up from his season averages of 8.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. He had 13 points and 13 rebounds in a Feb. 24 victory over Pacific; six points and three rebounds in a Dec. 30 loss to the Tigers. Pacific lost seven of its last nine conference games.

--PETER YOON