Mostly, the Big West is tightly-bunched, but one disappointment this season has been UCR, which impressed in November but has been sliding since under new HC Gus Argenal after Mike Magpayo left the Inland Empire for the Bronx and Fordham. Five straight losses for the Highlanders, the last three in league play, have sunk them to the bottom of the Big West table, the offense barely registering at a 60 pg clip across the last four of those setbacks. UCR has been hampered by little help from its bench in recent defeats. As for the Beach, Big West observers continue to see something worth backing, especially with star frosh G Gavin Sykes scoring 21+ in three of the last four games. Play Beach