USD vs. Pepperdine

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Records: USD is 14-17; Pepperdine is 12-17.

Series: Pepperdine leads 56-39, but USD has won the last five.

Toreros outlook: The common refrain among players this time of year is, ?It?s win or go home.? Translated: March Madness has begun. The matchup would seem to favor USD. The Toreros swept the regular-season series, plus defeated the Waves just five days ago, 76-69 at home. The win snapped a five-game losing streak. The game, though, was a nip-and-tuck affair with 14 lead changes and 10 ties. Coach Bill Grier started a three-guard lineup with senior Cameron Miles joining Johnny Dee and Christopher Anderson. All five USD starters scored in double figures, a first this season. The Toreros must defend better from the perimeter. The Waves were 8 of 17 on 3-pointers. For most of the season, Dee was the only player scoring in double figures. But in the last five games, Ken Rancifer (13.4), Dee (12.2) and Chris Manresa (11.2) have scored in double figures. If the Toreros win they?ll face BYU on Friday in the quarterfinals.

Waves outlook: At 6-2, 205 pounds, point guard Lorne Jackson is a tough matchup for the 5-7, 140-pound Anderson. Jackson scored a game-high 22 on Saturday. Pepperdine freshman Stacy Davis (6-6, 235) was named the WCC?s Newcomer of the Year. He led all WCC freshmen in scoring (11.0) and rebounding (7.1). ?He?s a man-child in there,? said Grier. ?I shook hands with him and he about broke mine. He?s a load.? USD and Pepperdine have met in six of the last eight WCC Tournaments with the Toreros holding a 5-1 edge.

 

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UC IRVINE AT PACIFIC





Skinny: Two teams jockeying for seeding in next week's Big West Conference Tournament in Anaheim will face off for the second time in two weeks. ... The Anteaters come in riding a five-game winning streak, including a 68-59 home victory over the Tigers on Feb. 20 in which four starters reached double-figures in scoring. ... Pacific coach Bob Thomason said there were very few positives in that game for the Tigers: "About everything needs to change. We didn't play very well in any aspect of the game and they pretty much dominated us." ... Pacific remains in sole possession of second place and could set up a showdown for the Big West crown Saturday afternoon at Spanos Center with a win over the Anteaters coupled with a loss by first-place Long Beach State (17-11, 13-3) at UC Davis tonight. ... Thomason said Pacific's health is improving with sixth man Ross Rivera fully recovered from pneumonia and backup shooting guard Markus Duran back at practice Wednesday after missing two days because of illness. ... Thomason said Pacific's defense will focus on forward Adam Folker (13 points, 13 rebounds in the first meeting) and guard Daman Starring (16 points), and he hopes to slow them down enough to beat the Anteaters with the shooting (50.4 percent) that has carried the Tigers to an 11-2 mark at Spanos Center. ... Pacific's offense was flowing in two road victories at Cal State Fullerton (64-55) and UC Riverside (70-68) last week with the Tigers accumulating 31 assists out of 47 made field goals while shooting 48.4 percent.