Oregon Schools

The women's basketball teams at UCLA and USC begin their Pacific 10 Conference seasons tonight in a race many observers are calling Stanford's to lose. UCLA (5-4) entertains Oregon (7-2) at 7, and Oregon State (8-1) visits USC (7-1) at 7:30. The Oregon schools then switch sites for games Saturday, Oregon State playing at UCLA at 2 p.m., Oregon at USC at 7:30. Stanford, ranked fifth and winner of seven in a row since losing Dec.

When: 1 p.m. Where: Pauley Pavilion. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 570. Records: UCLA 20-8 overall, 11-4 Pacific 10 Conference; Arizona 23-5, 12-3. Update: UCLA Coach Ben Howland calls every game "the most important game of the season," but this time he's not just repeating a cliché. A Bruins victory would move them into a first-place tie atop the Pac-10 standings alongside Arizona, though the Wildcats have the more forgiving schedule during the final week of the regular season; Arizona plays host to the Oregon schools while UCLA hits the road to play at Washington and Washington State.

MEN UC Riverside 70, at Cal St. Northridge 61: The Highlanders (7-8, 2-1 Big West) got hot in the second half and ended an 11-game losing streak against the Matadors (4-12, 1-3). at Cal Poly SLO 58, Cal State Fullerton 54: The Mustangs (7-8, 3-1 Big West) rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit behind David Hanson's 25 points. The Titans fell to 6-11, 2-3. at UC Santa Barbara 71, UC Irvine 58: James Nunnally and Orlando Johnson scored 22 points each and the Gauchos (9-6, 2-2 Big West)

UCLA was like a housewarming guest who broke the crystal glassware and stained the new carpet. The Bruins went into Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena on Saturday and took away a bit of the $227-million arena's luster, rallying for a 67-59 victory over the Ducks. Two days after Oregon rolled over USC in the first game played at the arena, UCLA overcame a slow start to become the first opposing team to win on the court. "We made history, I guess you could say," said freshman center Joshua Smith, who scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half to help the Bruins wipe out a three-point halftime deficit.

A 15-year-old freshman suspended a day earlier for bringing a gun to school allegedly walked into the crowded cafeteria at Thurston High Thursday, climbed up on a table and opened fire, calmly spraying bullets across the room until three students wrestled him to the ground. "Just shoot me," he then said. One student was killed and at least 22 others injured when the slight, freckle-faced boy strode into the room wearing a trench coat and slinging a rifle at his hip, witnesses said.

It rained when USC stepped off its plane in Portland on Wednesday night. It poured almost straight through its in-state stay that ends Sunday morning. It drizzled when the Trojans exited Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena with a loss Thursday night after a failed comeback. It fell in gobs Saturday when they entered Gill Coliseum, which they'd also leave with a loss, 80-76 to Oregon State, again following a failed USC comeback. There's just something about Oregon. It keeps raining on the Trojans' Pacific 10 Conference title hopes.

Bob Oates questions why the Oregon schools are in the Pac-10, based on the lack of recent Rose Bowl appearances. Would Oates like to see the Pac-10 again become the Pac-8? Or perhaps he'd like to see Big West powers San Jose State and Fresno State (0-5 against Pac-10 schools this year) replace the Oregon schools. Oregon is on the verge of greatness in football and Oregon State is showing vast improvement but Oates obviously wants them out. The Cal Bears haven't been close to the Rose Bowl for many years.

When: 1 p.m. Where: Pauley Pavilion. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 570. Records: UCLA 20-8 overall, 11-4 Pacific 10 Conference; Arizona 23-5, 12-3. Update: UCLA Coach Ben Howland calls every game "the most important game of the season," but this time he's not just repeating a cliché. A Bruins victory would move them into a first-place tie atop the Pac-10 standings alongside Arizona, though the Wildcats have the more forgiving schedule during the final week of the regular season; Arizona plays host to the Oregon schools while UCLA hits the road to play at Washington and Washington State.

Brook Lopez scored a career-high 26 points and keyed a second-half run that helped Stanford beat No. 15 Oregon for the 21st consecutive time at Maples Pavilion, 88-69, Saturday night. The Cardinal (17-8, 9-5) wrapped up its 14th consecutive home sweep against the Oregon schools. The Ducks (20-7, 8-7) have lost six of their last eight.

Three of USC's last four Pacific 10 Conference losses have come to the Oregon schools. What to look for in today's game: On the line: Oregon State manhandled both USC lines, so expect the Ducks to use a similar blueprint in trying to establish a running game and contain the Trojans' offense. Rush to judgment: A jitterbugging freshman, Jacquizz Rodgers, ran all over the Trojans last week. The Ducks' running backs are bigger, more powerful. USC might go more to Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable.

It rained when USC stepped off its plane in Portland on Wednesday night. It poured almost straight through its in-state stay that ends Sunday morning. It drizzled when the Trojans exited Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena with a loss Thursday night after a failed comeback. It fell in gobs Saturday when they entered Gill Coliseum, which they'd also leave with a loss, 80-76 to Oregon State, again following a failed USC comeback. There's just something about Oregon. It keeps raining on the Trojans' Pacific 10 Conference title hopes.

MEN UC Riverside 70, at Cal St. Northridge 61: The Highlanders (7-8, 2-1 Big West) got hot in the second half and ended an 11-game losing streak against the Matadors (4-12, 1-3). at Cal Poly SLO 58, Cal State Fullerton 54: The Mustangs (7-8, 3-1 Big West) rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit behind David Hanson's 25 points. The Titans fell to 6-11, 2-3. at UC Santa Barbara 71, UC Irvine 58: James Nunnally and Orlando Johnson scored 22 points each and the Gauchos (9-6, 2-2 Big West)

MEN St. Mary's 88, at Pepperdine 71: The Waves (7-15, 3-3 West Coast Conference) lost for the first time at home in conference play despite 24 points from Keion Bell. The Gaels are 18-3, 5-1. at Loyola Marymount 68, San Diego 65: Kevin Young scored a season-high 21 points as the Lions (11-11, 2-4 WCC) rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to defeat the Toreros (8-14, 1-5). UC Davis 60, at UC Riverside 50: Kyle Austin had 22 points for the Highlanders (8-12, 2-6 Big West)

Three of USC's last four Pacific 10 Conference losses have come to the Oregon schools. What to look for in today's game: On the line: Oregon State manhandled both USC lines, so expect the Ducks to use a similar blueprint in trying to establish a running game and contain the Trojans' offense. Rush to judgment: A jitterbugging freshman, Jacquizz Rodgers, ran all over the Trojans last week. The Ducks' running backs are bigger, more powerful. USC might go more to Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable.

"YOU want to try a bat hang?" Tim asks and flips over in his harness. His feet point straight up. We're about halfway up a 60-foot black walnut, dangling from a combination of ropes, knots and carabiners. Tim's been doing this for 13 years; I've been at it about 24 hours. What the heck. I flip. Oregon is upside-down, and this, this is all the joy of childhood, of knobby knees thrown over a branch, of hair dangling toward the grass.

Brook Lopez scored a career-high 26 points and keyed a second-half run that helped Stanford beat No. 15 Oregon for the 21st consecutive time at Maples Pavilion, 88-69, Saturday night. The Cardinal (17-8, 9-5) wrapped up its 14th consecutive home sweep against the Oregon schools. The Ducks (20-7, 8-7) have lost six of their last eight.

A boy accused of gunning down his classmates in a high school cafeteria shooting spree pulled out a hidden knife after his arrest and lunged at a police officer, city officials said Saturday. The boy, 15-year-old Kipland P. Kinkel, was subdued with pepper spray, the Springfield Police Department said in a statement. There were no reported injuries.

* OREGON (13-5, 4-2) at No. 10 UCLA (12-4, 6-0), 1 p.m., Pauley Pavilion, Fox Sports Net--The Bruins, unbeaten in January and carrying a seven-game winning streak, seek to put more distance between themselves and the runners-up in the Pac-10 race. With a win, UCLA will take a 7-0 conference mark to Palo Alto on Thursday for a showdown with 4-2 Stanford. Senior Maylana Martin needs 18 points to pass Rehema Stephens and move into second place on UCLA's career scoring chart behind Denise Curry.

USC evened its record in the Pacific 10 Conference with a 59-51 victory over Oregon State on Sunday at the Galen Center. The victory was the third consecutive for the Trojans (9-7, 3-3 in Pac-10), who defeated Oregon in double overtime Friday. Oregon State (6-7, 1-3) was within two, at 50-48, when Beavers guard Casey Nash, the Pac-10's leading scorer, was called for her fifth foul with 4:26 left. The Trojans, led by Jamie Hagiya's 14 points, then pulled away.

The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday that it had shattered a drug operation that started among high school buddies in Roseburg 30 years ago and grew over the years to become an international operation that took in more than $20 million. Eleven of the 12 people named in a federal indictment are in custody after arrests Wednesday in Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Idaho. Most are from Oregon. U.S. Atty. Thomas E.