Anteaters try for upset against Big West leaders

When: Tonight, 8 p.m.

TV: ESPNU

Where: Bren Events Center

Breakdown: The UC Irvine men’s basketball team will try to snap a three-game losing streak when Big West Conference-leading Cal State Northridge invades … The Anteaters (8-17, 5-7 in conference) have dropped to seventh place with four regular-season Big West games remaining … Northridge (12-10, 8-3) is on a six-game winning streak, during which it has limited opponents to 37.7% shooting from the field … Jerry Green, UCI’s career scoring leader (1,993 points), who was Big West Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and is now playing professionally in Italy, will be recognized at center court at the last media timeout of the first half (approximately four minutes left) … The game also features a “blackout” promotion in which UCI fans are encouraged to wear black … The Matadors are without senior point guard Josh Jenkins, who remains hospitalized with injuries sustained in a car accident Saturday. Jenkins, averaging a conference-best 6.1 assists and adding 10.2 points per contest, is out indefinitely. He scored 17 points in a 74-55 home win over UCI on Jan. 24 … UCI is paced by 6-foot-5 freshman center Eric Wise (13.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Senior forward Kevin Bland (10.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) leads the Big West with six double-doubles … UCI has won the last three home meetings with the Matadors and leads the all-time series, 21-20.

— Barry Faulkner