TODAY

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UC Irvine (4-3) at Colorado (5-1), 6 p.m. -- Irvine, which last played on Dec. 3, beating San Jose State, 68-58, has lost all six of its games against the Buffaloes. Colorado is on a four-game winning streak after beating Utah, 76-52, Dec. 7.

Illinois State (5-2) at Cal State Northridge (4-3), 7 p.m. -- Northridge has been off 10 days, since losing to Fresno State, 75-60. The Redbirds have been idle since losing to Georgia Southern, 64-61, on Dec. 10.

Northern Colorado (0-11) at Loyola Marymount (2-6), 7 p.m. -- Loyola Marymount has lost three of its last four, including a 71-69 decision to USC on Dec. 10. The Bears are in their final season of transitioning to NCAA Division I basketball and joining the Big Sky Conference next season.

UC Santa Barbara (3-3) at San Diego State (4-4), 7 p.m. -- The Gauchos, unbeaten at home after defeating Pepperdine on Dec. 8, are looking for their first road win. The Aztecs are coming off losses to California and Washington State.

Long Beach State (2-5) at Pepperdine (1-6), 7:30 p.m., FSN West 2 -- Long Beach has lost three in a row, the latest, 69-56, to San Jose State on Dec. 10. The Waves come off an 0-4 trip, including a 71-56 defeat by Colorado State on Dec. 10.

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No. 24 UCLA (5-3) at UC Santa Barbara (1-6), 2 p.m. -- It’s hard to believe the 11-time Big West champion Gauchos are struggling this mightily, their latest loss on Dec. 11 to Loyola Marymount, 79-52. But Santa Barbara’s Thunderdome home is always a difficult place to play, so UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier remains wary. “We know they are better than their record,� Olivier said. The Bruins have been off since their 95-56 romp over Pepperdine on Dec. 8.

--MIKE TERRY