USD, UCSD Begin Postseason Saturday

The University of San Diego will tip off the West Coast Conference men’s basketball Tournament Saturday, facing Gonzaga at 11:30 a.m. USD won its three final conference games to finish fifth in the WCC at 6-8. Gonzaga placed fourth at 8-6. The tournament will be held at the University of Portland.

In Saturday’s other opening-round games, No. 1 Pepperdine (14-0) will play No. 8 Portland (3-11) at 2 p.m., No. 2 Santa Clara (9-5) will face No. 7 St. Mary’s (4-10) at 6 and No. 3 Loyola Marymount (8-6) will face No. 6 San Francisco (4-10) at 8:30.

Semifinals will be played Sunday evening, with the championship at 9 p.m. Monday on ESPN.

UC San Diego drew a first-round bye in the NCAA Division III tournament after finishing the regular season 22-4 and ranked third in the Division III National Coaches’ Poll. The Tritons will play host to Cal Lutheran at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, in the West Regional’s second round.

UCSD is riding a 17-game winning streak, the longest in school history. It’s last loss came Dec. 30 against Division I Washington. Unranked Cal Lutheran (15-11), which has twice lost to the Tritons, earned a berth by winning the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UCSD has beaten the Kingsmen, 67-65, and 83-71. The first round of the tournament is Thursday.

Advanced tickets for UCSD’s game can be purchased at the Canyonview Athletics and Recreation Center from noon to 5 p.m. Friday. The box office will open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $3 for students and $4 general admission.

MEN’S TENNIS

San Diego State won five of six singles matches en route to a nonconference victory over Nevada, 6-1, in Berkeley. Joe McDonough, the Aztecs’ No. 1 singles player, led the way with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Tony Tatkulak. San Diegans Kerry Safdie, Chris Numbers and Eric Tebbs were also winners for SDSU.

The Aztecs (5-0), ranked 23rd by the Volvo/ITCA poll, are scheduled to face 14th-ranked California in a crucial match today. Nevada fell to 4-3.

HIGH SCHOOLS

The following sites were announced for San Diego Section basketball tournament Division I and II semifinal games to be played Wednesday.

At Mira Mesa High: Poway girls vs. Bonita Vista and Poway boys vs. Vista. At Serra: Mt. Carmel girls vs. Rancho Bernardo and Mt. Carmel boys vs. Rancho Bernardo. At Rancho Bernardo High: Carlsbad girls vs. El Cajon Valley and Carlsbad boys vs. Torrey Pines. At West Hills: Point Loma girls vs. University City and Monte Vista boys vs. Helix. All girls games are at 5:30 p.m. and all boys games are at 7:30 p.m. Sites for Division V games have yet to be announced.