Gas Prices Rise Again in San Diego County

1. A week of fan frenzy over men's basketball at San Diego State University culminates Saturday in a showdown with Brigham Young University at Viejas Arena. SDSU is receiving an unusual amount of attention -- locally and nationally -- thanks to its 27-1 record, 12-1 in Mountain West Conference play. The only loss was to seventh-ranked Cougars, 71-58, Jan. 26 in Provo, Utah. The game is set to begin shortly after 11 a.m. and will be televised nationally by CBS.

2. The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose 6.1 cents Friday to $3.679, its highest amount since Sept. 23, 2008. The 22nd increase in 24 days pushed the average price 15.4 cents higher than a week ago, 33.2 cents above what it was one month ago and 72.8 cents greater than it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

3. The "brains'' behind a scam in which hundreds of homeowners were falsely told that "land patents'' would protect their properties from foreclosure was sentenced Friday to 20 years and four months in state prison. Larry Smith, 63, was found guilty last June of 21 felony counts, including grand theft and unlawful practices by a foreclosure consultant.

City News Service contributed to this report.