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Utah (5-4) at Pepperdine (6-3), 7, Fox Sports Net 2--The Utes are struggling without Coach Rick Majerus, who is in Las Vegas rehabilitating a surgically repaired knee. He plans to return Jan. 3 for a game against Long Beach State. Dick Hunsaker is the acting coach. Utah defeated Washington State on Saturday, ending a three-game losing streak, one of those losses, to Weber State, ending its 54-game home winning streak. Pepperdine has won 14 in a row at Firestone Fieldhouse. Wave guard Craig Lewis, who is shooting 45.5% from three-point range, is expected to return after sitting out four games because of an ankle injury. Utah has a size advantage with 6-foot-11 center Nate Althoff and forward Chris Burgess, a 6-10 transfer from Duke. This is the first in a four-game series between the teams.