Pregame at Spanos

STOCKTON – Greetings from courtside at Spanos Center, where the building is perking up slowly. Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell is listed as attending tonight’s game, so things aren’t bad on the dignitary front. Also attending the game tonight is forward Shane Hanson, who has been cleared to play after separating his shoulder in practice last week. He’s not 100 percent, but he could give it a shot.

UCD has lost nine straight, but has played relatively well over the past two weeks only to come up short. It’s not difficult to envision a similar scenario tonight. Things aren’t exactly rosy here in Tiger Town. Head coach Bob Thomason benched the entire starting line-up for Saturday’s Bracket Buster game. The second five are listed in Pacific’s game notes today, although we’ll believe that when they announce it. It’s easy to send messages when it’s not a conference game.

And just as a reminder, the Aggies haven’t beaten Pacific in men’s basketball since the 1939-40 season. That’s Steinbeck territory.