TODAY

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Long Beach State (6-11, 4-4) at Utah State (16-1, 8-0), 6 p.m., KRLA (870) -- Long Beach ended its road losing streak at 21 games at Idaho on Thursday, but will be trying to stretch its overall winning streak to three against the hottest team in the Big West Conference. Utah State has won 13 in succession and is 10-0 at home this season after knocking UC Irvine into a fourth-place tie in the standings with Long Beach. Aggie forward Spencer Nelson, who sat out two games because of a broken nose, got 11 rebounds and eight points in 26 minutes off the bench.

UC Irvine (9-8, 4-4) at Idaho (5-12, 2-6), 7 p.m., KUCI-FM (88.9) -- Irvine suddenly finds itself having to win to stay in the upper half of the Big West standings. The Anteaters played Utah State tough Thursday but couldn’t convert their opportunities in the final minutes of a nine-point loss to the conference-leading Aggies. Center Adam Parada is making 61% of his shots but is averaging only seven shots a game. Idaho fell into a three-way tie for last place with its home loss to Long Beach State.

Cal State Fullerton (6-11, 2-6) at UC Santa Barbara (11-6, 5-3), 7 p.m., KTLK (1340) -- After playing its worst game of the season in a loss at Pacific, Santa Barbara rebounded with an improved effort against Riverside. The Gauchos are still having problems with turnovers, committing 15 a game. “That’s something we have to clean up to be a competitive team,� Coach Bob Williams said. Fullerton forward Pape Sow is averaging double figures in points and rebounds in conference but has made only six of 26 shots in his last three games.

UC Riverside (6-10, 3-5) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (7-9, 2-6), 7 p.m., KPRO (1570) -- The Highlanders, on a three-game losing streak, were inept offensively at Santa Barbara, taking more three-point shots than two-pointers and failing to get the ball to forwards Nate Carter and Vili Morton. Cal Poly broke a losing streak at four games with a win over Fullerton.

Pacific (7-1, 12-7) at Cal State Northridge (7-9, 3-5), 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net 2 -- After a week layoff, these teams face a lot of pressure. Pacific has won eight of its last nine and needs a win tonight to stay a game behind front-running Utah State in the conference standings. Northridge, which has lost five of its last seven, needs a victory to avoid falling deeper into the pack of Big West also-rans.

San Francisco (13-9, 3-3) at Pepperdine (9-12, 4-2), 7 p.m. -- Pepperdine remained tied for second in the West Coast Conference with a comeback victory Thursday over St. Mary’s. Forward Yakhouba Diawara continued his effective play, scoring a 30 points for the Waves. The Dons, who have won three in a row, are talented but inconsistent, with victories over Ohio State and Pacific mixed with lopsided losses to St. Joseph’s, Gonzaga and Utah State.

Saint Mary’s (12-8, 3-2) at Loyola Marymount (10-9, 1-5), 7 p.m., KXLU-FM (88.9) -- With its loss to San Francisco, Loyola has started 1-5 in conference for the second consecutive season. Guard Wes Wardrop played 24 minutes after sitting out six of the previous nine games because of a foot injury. Freshman Matthew Knight had nine points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes. Saint Mary’s is led by sophomore Daniel Kickert (15.2 points) and junior Paul Marigney (14.5 points).

-- Paul McLeod and Eric Stephens

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Oregon State (11-8, 5-5) at UCLA (9-10, 4-6), 2 p.m., Pauley Pavilion, XTRA (690/1150) -- UCLA is the only conference team with three top-10 scorers. Nikki Blue (14.4 points) is eighth, followed by Lisa Willis (13.2) and Noelle Quinn (12.8). But scoring hasn’t been the problem; defensive lapses have been. In Thursday’s loss to Oregon, after UCLA had scored seven consecutive points and trailed by only four in the second half, the Ducks ran off eight points, regaining control. Oregon State ended a losing streak at three by defeating USC on Thursday and has time to make a move in the conference race.

Oregon (11-9, 3-7) at USC (10-8, 7-3), 4 p.m., Sports Arena, KMPC (1540) -- The Trojans stumbled into the second half of Pac-10 play with Thursday’s loss to Oregon State. The Trojans are the Pac-10’s best offensive rebounding team (16.6) but are eighth in field goal percentage (.397) and 10th in three-point shooting (.295). Oregon is coming off a six-point victory over UCLA. Guard Chelsea Wagner made five three-point shots and had 17 points.

-- Mike Terry