SAN DIEGO COLLEGE BASKETBALL : TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM INVITATIONAL

SAN DIEGO STATE (5-3) vs. SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE (2-4), 6 p.m.

Radio--KFMB (760), 6:20 p.m. (delayed).

Their longest winning streak since 1984-85 now a memory, the Aztecs will be looking to forget Saturday’s 75-62 loss to UC Irvine in their first meeting with Southwest Texas State. The Aztecs, who had won five in a row, need work on their shooting (45% from the field) and rebounding. Irvine was able to erase a 37-33 halftime deficit Saturday by outrebounding SDSU in the second half, 24-12. Three Aztec starters are averaging in double-figure scoring: Shawn Jamison (15.8), Michael Best (13.3) and Marty Dow (10.6). Jamison is the only starter to reach double figures in each game. In Friday’s second round, SDSU will play either Penn State (5-0) or the University of Alabama-Birmingham (4-3). Southwest Texas State has six lettermen returning from last year’s 13-17 team. Two are starters--guard Stacy Bennett (10.8 points a game) and forward Greg Frizzell (4.4 points, 3.6 rebounds).

NONCONFERENCE

NEVADA RENO (3-6) at UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO (3-4), 7:30 p.m.

USD has a chance to “get well” on this home stand at the USD Sports Center but cannot afford any more games like Tuesday night’s 79-64 loss to Eastern Washington. USD led by 10 in the first half but couldn’t put the Eagles away. Eastern Washington closed the game with a 17-4 run, the fifth time USD had been put away late in a game. John Jerome had 28 points and leads the Toreros with a 20-point average. Nevada Reno has yet to win two in a row and is coming off a 109-63 rout of UC Davis. Junior guard Kevin Franklin leads the Wolfpack with 27 points per game. UNR leads the series, 6-2, including a 90-68 victory last season.

E. WASHINGTON (3-4) at U.S. INTERNATIONAL (3-8), 7:30 p.m.

Radio--KVSD (1000).

The Gulls can get themselves a lot of respect with a victory against Eastern Washington, which defeated USD Tuesday. USIU has lost eight of its past nine games, including 113-107 to Wright State Saturday. The Gulls had chances to win, but several key mistakes in the final minutes killed them. USIU is trying to achieve only its second winning season in the 11 years it has been an NCAA Division I member. The Gulls have 11 games at home including tonight’s and must win them all--and at least one on the road--to have a winning season. And two road victories may be too much to ask. Eastern Washington defeated a solid UC Santa Barbara team, 72-67, Saturday and had four players score in double figures against USD. The Gulls are led by Kevin Bradshaw, who is averaging 30 points per game.