Long Beach Streaks Into Conference Play

Lucious Harris and Chris Tower combined for 44 points and Cal State Long Beach forced 26 turnovers while defeating San Jose State, 88-73, Saturday night in a Big West Conference opener for both teams.

The 49ers’ victory gave them their first 8-0 overall record since the 1978-79 season. Long Beach had five players in double figures.

San Jose State, which had won its previous three home games, dropped to 3-6 overall despite a career-high 23 points by forward Daryl Scott.

Harris scored 23 points, Tower 21 and Rod Hannibal 16 as Long Beach used its defense to create offense at the expense of the Spartans, who could not deal effectively with the tempo created by the 49ers’ pressure defense.

With the score tied, 12-12, seven minutes into the game, the 49ers went on a 15-7 run to take a 27-19 lead, and led by at least five points the rest of the game.

Brian Camper, who finished with 10 points, scored three baskets during the run. Hannibal had four three-pointers as the 49ers finished 10 for 18 from three-point distance.

Harris was most effective in the final minutes of the first half, which ended with Long Beach ahead, 42-33. Despite being guarded by four different players at times, he finished with 13 points in the half.

San Jose State, meanwhile, committed 16 first-half turnovers.