Around the Big West

UC Riverside lost to future Big West member UC Davis 66-65 on Monday, but the Highlanders lost something more important. Center Vili Morton, averaging 16.5 points and 9.1 rebounds, went down with a season-ending knee injury in the final minute. Morton suffered partial tears in two ligaments, a small tear in another ligament and a small compression fracture… . CS Northridge’s Eto Onyenegecha, a force in the lane last year, has been slowed by tendonitis in both knees. He had 23 dunks last season. He has one this year… . UC Riverside has landed Tron Smith, a transfer from Arizona State… . Pacific tripped Long Beach State last week, but coach Bob Thomason wasn’t enthused that his team nearly blew a 20-point lead and had 13 second-half turnovers. “I think it’s the first time in my career that I didn’t say anything to the team after the game,” Thomason told the Stockton Record… . Pacific is off to its best start since going 16-1 in 1996-97… . Cal State Fullerton’s Bobby Brown has scored in double figures in 10 straight games. Idaho’s Dandrick Jones has nine consecutive double-digit games.