Loyola, Waves Will Clash on Saturday

Loyola Marymount University plays at league leader Pepperdine at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a game that always seems to bring out the best in Lions center Steve Haderlein. The 6-7 senior was slowed by an injury when they played earlier this year but got career highs in points and rebounds against Pepperdine last year.

Loyola, 10-15 overall and 2-8 in the West Coast Athletic Conference, is struggling to climb out of last place. Pepperdine is 21-8 and 9-1 and could clinch the WCAC title tonight against San Diego.

Loyola junior Keith Smith, up to seventh in the nation in scoring average at 25.8, needs 14 points to become the Lions’ all-time single season scorer. He is also averaging 5.9 assists. Haderlein is averaging 9.1 points and 7.9 rebounds. Freshman Steve Haney is averaging 12.3 points.

Junior guard Dwayne Polee leads Pepperdine’s balanced attack with a 16.2 average. All five starters are scoring in double figures with forward Eric White next at 15.5.

Cal State Dominguez Hills finishes its regular basketball schedule with a 7:30 p.m. game tonight at Chapman. The Toros (19-8, 9-4), in the driver’s seat a week ago in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. race, lost both games last weekend and need to beat Chapman to qualify for a possible tie. They enter the Chapman contest one game behind Cal State Northridge, which closes tonight against Cal State Los Angeles. A Toros victory combined with a Cal State L.A. victory would produce a three-way tie.

The Tom Sullivan 10-K St. Patrick’s Day Run will be held at 8 a.m. March 17 starting at Del Amo Fashion Center. Pre-registration, $11 including T-shirt or $6 for race only, is required by March 8. Registration will be $13 after the deadline. There will be trophies for standard age divisions as well as handicapped and 200-pound divisions. Overall male and female winners will receive trips to Dublin, Ireland.

Avalon and Santa Catalina Island will host a 10-K run March 23 and a marathon March 24 in its eighth annual Catalina Running Weekend. Entries close March 13 or when 1,000 runners enter the 10-K. The marathon will be limited to 400 runners. Applications are available from the Avalon Chamber of Commerce and are in the current issue of Running and Triathlon News, as well as in running stores around the South Bay. The marathon is considered especially challenging. Fewer than 100 runners have broken three hours on the course in seven previous races.