CS Long Beach Alone at the Top : Big West: Harris moves to point guard, helps shut down the New Mexico State offense, 97-71.

Two seasons ago, 6-foot-5 Lucious Harris spent most of his playing time at point guard for Cal State Long Beach, a position he detested.

“We had no choice back then,” said 49er Coach Seth Greenberg, who was short on talent at the time. “He played it a lot.”

Saturday night, with teammates Brian Camper and Jeff Rogers in foul trouble late in the first half, the senior returned to the point--at his own choosing--and helped Long Beach to a 97-71 victory over New Mexico State in a Big West Conference game in the 49ers’ gym.

It was the worst loss since 1987 for the Aggies (9-4, 2-1), preseason favorites to win the conference title, along with 12th-ranked Nevada Las Vegas.

It was the 19th consecutive victory for the 49ers (10-1, 3-1) in their gym and marks the best start the team has had in two decades. Long Beach is alone in first place in the Big West, a half-game ahead of four teams, including the Aggies.

On Thursday, the 49ers defeated Nevada Las Vegas, 101-94, ending the nation’s longest winning streak at 29 games.

“The kids are playing hard. They’re so unselfish, they don’t care who scores,” Greenberg said of the two-game home stand.

Four 49ers scored in double figures. Harris led all scorers with 31 points, four shy of his career best. Forward Bryon Russell had 21 points and seven rebounds, forward Rod Hannibal had 17 points and center Chris Tower had 10.

Harris, who usually plays off-guard, was 10 of 16. But it was his work in man-to-man defense against 5-foot-8 point guard Sam Crawford, who finished with eight turnovers and seven assists, that was most helpful to the 49ers.

“I’m a lot taller than he is,” Harris said. “That allowed me to get in his passing lane. He couldn’t throw it over anyone inside.”

Long Beach took a 20-6 lead, but New Mexico State tied the score at 26-26 on a basket by Cliff Reed with 2:17 to play in the half.

But during the second half, Harris limited Crawford to three assists and the Aggies faltered.

“I was a little nervous at point guard the first couple of times down the court,” Harris said.