Nik (Probably) Out for Weekend

Briefly: Pilots leading scorer Nik Raivio is doubtful for tonight’s game and Saturday’s home game against Pepperdine after straining his right Achilles’ tendon near the end of Tuesday’s practice. “Maybe he’ll wake up Friday and feel a lot better or something, but he’s doubtful for this weekend,” Pilots coach Eric Reveno said after Thursday’s practice. “We’re not as good without Nik, that’s for sure. It means other guys have to step up. Offensively, he gives us some aggressiveness and an ability to create opportunities for others or for himself. And he does a nice job rebounding the ball, so … those two things are the main things.”

Jared Stohl is expected to move into Raivio’s spot in the starting lineup, with Taishi Ito, Nemanja Mitrovic and Eric Waterford most likely to split the minutes that Stohl had been getting off the bench. It also will mark the first time the Pilots have changed their starting lineup this season. … After 17 games, Raivio was averaging 14.1 points a game and also was second on the team in assists (1.9) and third in rebounds (6.1). He said he was injured in the final 10 minutes of Tuesday’s practice when he jumped for a offensive rebound and landed awkwardly on someone’s foot. “I don’t think it’s really bad, it’s just in a tender area,” Raivio said. “I don’t know how long I’ll be out. There’s no real timeframe, just whenever I can start moving. Hopefully, it’s not too long. I’m really disappointed. Watching everyone out here running around, it’s something that you kind take for granted sometimes. But especially my senior year, I want to be out there every second. Times ticking away, so I’ll do whatever I have to do to get better.”

Loyola Marymount also could be without its leading scorer and rebounder for tonight’s game. Drew Viney, the 6-foot-7 sophomore transfer from Oregon, is averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds, but is listed as doubtful with an injured right leg that forced him to miss last week's games against San Francisco and Santa Clara. … Last season, the Pilots swept the two-game series with LMU, winning 75-59 in Los Angeles and 73-65 in Portland. The Lions have a 45-38 lead in the all-titme series, but have lost the last four times the teams have met at the Chiles Center, including a 55-41 loss to the Pilots in the first round of the 2007 WCC Tournament. ... The Lions have no seniors and have been starting a lineup with one junior, three sophomores and a freshman. Last week, LMU dropped a 70-67 decision to San Francisco, but bounced back with an 81-70 victory over Santa Clara for their first WCC win. ... The Lions are 5-5 away from Gersten Pavilion, including wins at USC (67-59) and Notre Dame (87-85).