It is the week before Christmas and all through the house, no local teams seem mightier than a mouse. However, while most people are on holiday break the college basketball schedule is relatively heavy this week, including a pair of games against ranked teams. The Long Beach State 49ers (4-5) will face the Xavier Musketeers, while the USC Trojans (4-7) host the Kansas Jayhawks. Here is the local college basketball schedule for the upcoming week:
Monday, December 19
Eastern New Mexico at Long Beach State: The 49ers host the Greyhounds in their final tuneup before heading to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic Tournament.
TCU at USC: The Trojans look to snap a three-game losing streak, during which they have shot just 34.2% from the field.
Tuesday, December 20
7:30 p.m. - UC Irvine at UCLA (Prime Ticket): The Bruins can get above .500 for the first time all year with a win at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
Wednesday, December 21
Loyola Marymount at Morgan State: The Lions, after their loss on Sunday at Florida State, head to Maryland to battle the Bears.
Thursday, December 22
7 p.m. - Pepperdine vs. Washington State: The Waves head north to the Cougar Hardwood Classic in Seattle for their third game against a Pac-12 opponent this season.
8 p.m. - Kansas at USC (Prime Ticket): The Jayhawks were No. 12 in both polls last week, and head to Los Angeles for a battle with the struggling Trojans at Galen Center. USC hung tough on the road last season with Kansas but ultimately lost 70-68.
8 p.m. - Diamond Head Classic, Long Beach State vs. Xavier (ESPNU): Xavier was ranked No. 8 in the AP poll last week but suffered a 22-point upset loss at home to Oral Roberts on Saturday thanks to having three starters suspended after their brawl with Cincinnati last week. Terrell Holloway will be back for the Musketeers against Long Beach State, but Xavier will be without fellow starters Mark Lyons and Dezmine Wells, who are serving longer suspensions. This is the fifth game against a ranked team this year for Long Beach State.
Friday, December 23
7:30 p.m. - Richmond at UCLA (Prime Ticket): The Bruins play their final non-conference game before opening up Pac-12 play on December 29.
Diamond Head Classic: Long Beach State will face either Auburn or Hawaii on the second day of the tournament. If Long Beach State beats Xavier, Friday will be at 8 p.m. on ESPN2; if the 49ers lost to Xavier, Friday's game will be at 10:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Sunday, December 25
Diamond Head Classic: Long Beach State will face somebody in the final day of the tournament, in a game as early as 11 a.m. on ESPN3.com or as late as the tournament final at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
For more local college hoops news be sure to read Bruins Nation and Conquest Chronicles.