Break schedule full for Morgan's team

With 12 games scheduled over winter break the Long Beach State men's basketball team could find itself either sitting atop the Big West Conference standings or mired mid-table, licking their wounds and waiting until next season.

Thursday  Cal State Dominguez Hills  7:35 p.m.

CSUDH (1-4) is a Division II school that will boost the 49ers' win total and confidence but not the Big West's RPI rating. Possibly scheduled as a respite during finals week. LBSU beat the Toros the last two years, including 85-51 last year.

Dec. 18  at Loyola Marymount  7:00 p.m.

Loyola (2-4) has won two games in a row after losing first four of the season. Encouraging for the 49ers, they are 1-2 against Big West this season. LBSU has defeated Loyola the last two years, including 95-64 last season.

Dec. 22  Texas A&M (Direct TV) 7:15 p.m.

This game will be the first for the Aggies (3-4) after taking two weeks off for finals. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Jan. 11 *at Utah State (ESPN) 9:05 p.m.

Even without the 49ers injured big men, the two games between the Aggies (6-1) and the 49ers will go a long way in deciding the eventual Big West championship. Season total includes impressive wins against Utah (58-57) and Montana Tech (79-29). The Aggies handed the 49ers their only conference last season, 71-63.

Jan. 13 *at Boise State   6:30 p.m.

The Broncos (5-2) have won five in a row after losing first two. Forward Abe Jackson is tied with The Beach's Rock Lloyd for the Big West's scoring lead with 20.4 points a game. The Broncos are shooting excellently, leading the Big West in free throw percentage with 69.1 percent and three-pointers with 41.5 percent. LBSU won 68-56 last year at the BSU Pavilion.

Jan.18 *at UC Santa Barbara (ESPN) 9:05 p.m.

The Gauchos (2-5) pushed USC to the limit Saturday night before falling 75-73. B.J. Ward ranks second in the Big West with 4.6 assists per game. Mike Vukovich leads the conference with 1.6 blocks per game. The 49ers won both games last year, including a 72-69 win at the Thunderdome.

Jan. 20 *Cal Poly   7:35 p.m.

Forward Brendan Beeson leads the Big West with 10.8 rebounds a game. The Mustangs (3-2) also lead the conference in team scoring with 86.4 points per game and rebounding with 40.2 per game. It will be a battle of strengths as the Mustangs only turn the ball over a conference-leading 12.6 times a game and the 49ers steal the ball a conference-leading 9.4 times a game. The 49ers swept the two games last year, including a 75-61 win at The Pyramid.

Jan. 24 at UC Riverside  7:00 p.m.

This is a preview for next season, as the Highlanders (3-4) will be joining the Big West next season along with Cal State Northridge. Counting common opponents, UCR defeated Oregon State 67-63 and lost to Stanford 84-41. Mark Miller with 13.9 is the only player averaging in double figures. This is the first meeting between the two schools since the 1977-78 season, and LBSU holds a 13-0 all-time edge dating back to the fifties.

Jan. 27 *at Pacific   7:00 p.m.

The Tigers (5-2) were clobbered 91-49 by common LBSU opponent Pepperdine. Most recently, they picked up a pair of wins at the Ameritus Classic in Nebraska. LBSU beat the Tigers twice last season, including a 76-66 win at the Spanos Center.

Dec. 30  at No. 15 USC (Fox)   5:30 p.m.

Thanks to Steve Lavin's brilliant coaching in Westwood, USC (6-0) is indisputably the best team in Los Angeles. With Pepperdine and Northwestern on the Trojans' slate before the 49ers, they will likely be undefeated and wanting to stay that way when The Beach visit the Sports Arena. LBSU has gone 2-2 against USC the last four years, including a 78-66 win last season.

Jan. 03  at No. 22 Utah    6:35 p.m.

The 49ers will have no time for a New Year's hangover with a visit to Utah (4-4) only four days after facing USC. Luster of invincibility is gone after Weber State broke the Utes' 54-game home winning streak Saturday night. 49ers can get hope from fellow Big West team Utah State beating the Utes 58-57, but that game was at Utah State. Utah defeated LBSU 61-54 during the 98-99 season.

Jan. 06  *Cal State Fullerton  7:35 p.m.

The Titans (1-4) are struggling under first year coach Donny Daniels, picking up losses against common LBSU opponents Oregon State, Pepperdine and UC Riverside. CSUF sits last in the Big West at 57.3 points a game. LBSU won both games last year, including an 88-75 win at The Pyramid.