Irvine Blows Lead, Game to Long Beach : Big West: Anteaters hold seven-point advantage with two minutes to play, then fall in overtime, 82-79.

UC Irvine got what it was looking for in its Big West Conference game Thursday night: a man-to-man defense from Cal State Long Beach.

But the Anteaters, who have been plagued by poor ballhandling all season, did a poor job of defending a seven-point lead with two minutes left in regulation at the Bren Center and went on to lose their eighth consecutive game, 82-79, in overtime.

It was the third consecutive victory for the 49ers (11-5, 5-2), but only the second time Long Beach has won on the road this season.

Irvine (3-13, 0-7) led, 67-60, after a three-point basket by Keith Stewart with 2:01 left in the game. But a wide-open Rod Hannibal of Long Beach countered with a three-pointer 13 seconds later, and Lucious Harris made an 18-foot shot with 1:30 remaining.

That set up the game’s key play. Harris, who appeared in pain as he clutched his right ankle, stole the ball from Stewart at the top of the Anteater key, drove the length of the court and drew the intentional foul from Stewart with 41 seconds left.

Harris tied the score by making both free throws, and Long Beach retained the ball, but could not score.

Bryon Russell opened the overtime period with two free throws, and Hannibal followed with two baskets to give Long Beach a 73-67 lead with 3:44 remaining.

As the second half ground to a close it appeared Irvine would end its losing streak. Effectively penetrating the Long Beach defense, the Anteaters, who have not been very successful shooting over the myriad zones they have seen lately, shook off 15 turnovers to erase a 10-point lead that Long Beach held midway through the first half.

Irvine, which had only twice shot better than 50% from the floor, got several high-percentage shots and finished the game making 28 of 46 field-goal attempts (60.9%).

Baskets by Jeff Von Lutzow and Khari Johnson put Irvine ahead for the first time, 36-35, a minute into the second half.