USC VS. CALIFORNIA.

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m., Sports Arena.

TV/Radio: No TV, 1540-AM.

USC (8-9, 1-5) update: USC coach Jim Saia said he will continue to start Derrick Craven at point guard and bring freshman Gabe Pruitt off the bench, after the rotation worked successfully last weekend in Arizona. Pruitt is now healthy after being bothered by a bruised knee. Guard Errick Craven (sprained ankle) is healthy enough to play 15-20 minutes per game. The Trojans are 0-2 at the Sports Arena after being swept by the Washington schools.

California (8-7, 1-4) update: Last year, USC guard Errick Craven was suspended for a game last year after kicking Cal guard Richard Midgley. Craven said he bumped into Midgley last summer while visiting a friend at Berkeley. ``My brother started talking to him and I thought, 'might as well,' '' Craven said. ``I don't blame anything on him at all. I blame it on the Pac-10 officials. I think it was unfair to give me a one-game suspension.''

- Scott Wolf

CSUN at UC SANTA BARBARA

Tipoff: 7:05 p.m., the Thunderdome.

TV/Internet: No TV; www.gomatadors.com

CSUN (8-7, 6-1) update: The Matadors are in a tie for first in the Big West and have won their last six games. CSUN hasn't won at UCSB since 1981 but it has played there just five times since. CSUN leads the Big West in scoring defense at 57 points per game. Ian Boylan needs to average 21.4 ppg the rest of the season (excluding postseason tournament play) to become the school's all-time leading scorer.

UCSB (6-8, 3-3) update: The injury-plagued Gauchos are down to seven players again. Guard Derek Rasp is out with a bruised lung caused by a hard fall in Saturday's win over UC Davis, which joins the Big West next year. Forward Glenn Turner has blocked at least two shots over the last nine games. Guard Chrismen Oliver leads the team in scoring with 10.5 ppg.

- Jill Painter

ST. MARY'S at PEPPERDINE

Tipoff: 7 p.m., Firestone Fieldhouse.

TV/Internet: CSTV; www.pepperdinesports.com

St. Mary's (15-5, 2-1) update: St. Mary's has the best scoring defense (59.5 ppg) in the West Coast Conference but the worst scoring offense (67.4 ppg). St. Mary's beat No. 11 Gonzaga 89-81 on Jan. 8 but lost to Santa Clara 65-42 a week later. Guard Paul Marigney and forward Daniel Kickert average 14.1 ppg. The Gaels have won eight of their last nine games.

Pepperdine (12-7, 2-2) update: Center Jesse Pinegar (severe ankle sprain) is not expected to play this week and it is not known when he can return. The Waves lost their last two games at Portland and Gonzaga.

- Jill Painter