With four games remaining in the regular season, UC San Diego (24-4, 14-2 Big West) is well positioned to capture the Big West regular-season men’s basketball title and top seed for next month’s conference tournament.
The Tritons visit very hot Cal State Northridge (20-7, 12-4 Big West) at 7 p.m. Thursday in a game that could be their toughest test in the remainder of the regular season.
Since UC San Diego beat them 79-54 on Jan. 25 at LionTree Arena, the Matadors have won seven straight and positioned themselves to be a top-four seed in the conference tournament and with it a first-round bye.
The Tritons received votes in the AP and USA Today coaches polls and are ranked second in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll, five slots ahead of second-place UC Irvine (23-5, 13-3) which visits Cal State Fullerton (6-22, 1-15) tonight.
The Tritons also have a NET rating of 35 and a Kenpom rating of 36, which puts them on the NCAA Tournament bubble should they not win the Big West Tournament.
UC San Diego and CSUN are the top two scoring teams in the Big West. Defense has been the calling card for coach Eric Olen’s team; the Tritons are allowing a league-low 62 points per game while leading the nation in turnover margin (plus-7.2). The Tritons are coming off a dominant 83-44 home win over Hawaii on Saturday, while CSUN is coming off a 65-62 win at UC Davis.
CSUN sophomore guard Marcus Adams Jr., a transfer from BYU, was named Big West Player of the Week after averaging 21.5 points, six rebounds and two assists in road wins over Irvine and Davis.
Rebounding will be key for the Tritons. Northridge leads the Big West in rebounds per game (40.6), rebound margin (plus-9.3) and offensive rebounds per game
UC San Diego senior wing Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones is a strong candidate for Big West Player of the Year, and is third in the conference in scoring at 19.8 points per game while leading the nation in free throws made (187).
CSUN’s 54 points in the Jan. 25 loss at LionTree Arena was a season-low. Tait-Jones led the way with 32 points on 10-of-14 shooting.
PLNU rolling
Point Loma Nazarene (23-5, 16-2 PacWest) has won three straight games and 12 of the last 13 heading into Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. tipoff against Menlo (10-14, 6-12) at Golden Gymnasium.
The Sea Lions, ranked No. 9 nationally, are coming off an 86-77 home win over Vanguard. They can lock up sole possession of first place in the PacWest and a fourth straight conference title with either a win Thursday or a Biola loss; Biola plays at Azusa Pacific on Thursday.
PLNU closes the regular season on Saturday at home against Westmont at 4 p.m. The PacWest Tournament opens next Thursday in San Rafael.
Toreros skidding
USD (4-25, 1-15 WCC) has lost 15 straight games entering Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. game at Washington State (16-13, 6-10). The Cougars defeated the Toreros 65-61 at Jenny Craig Pavilion on Jan. 16. The Toreros close the season Saturday at Jenny Craig against Portland at 1 p.m.
