CS Long Beach Beats Nevada : Big West: The 49ers take a 12-point halftime lead, then cool off en route to a 91-82 victory.

Cal State Long Beach shot 66.7% during the first half to take a 12-point lead, but then struggled for a 91-82 Big West Conference victory over Nevada before about 1,500 in the 49ers’ campus gym Saturday night.

The victory came on the heels of Thursday’s hot-and-cold performance during a 76-64 victory over Utah State. In that one, the 49ers stumbled to a 27-27 halftime tie, then shot 53.9% during the second half.

Saturday night, Long Beach (16-6 overall, 8-5 in the Big West) shot only 42% from the field during the second half and made only 17 of 27 free throws.

Nevada (7-14, 2-11) cut the 49ers’ 12-point halftime lead to 60-56 with 15:04 to play.

But Lucious Harris, who finished with a game-high 29 points, made a three-point shot 30 seconds later and Long Beach was on its way to a 13-2 run.

The 49ers missed at least one free throw in seven of their eight one-and-one bonus situations in the final 10:56 and that made it seem like the game was never really in hand.

“We got big-headed and started playing around,” said senior forward Bryon Russell about many of the 49ers’ showboat antics and careless passes that led to 12 second-half turnovers.

“We just lost focus. It was a lack of concentration.”

Nevada, in the midst of its worse losing streak in 21 years, penetrated the 49er defense at will, particularly during the second half. Nevada outrebounded the 49ers, 38-28. Nevada forward Eric Morris finished with 26 points and eight rebounds.

“I’m very upset with the way we played,” Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg said.

“But on the other hand, if we learned something from this game, then this will be a good lesson.”

Although it held leads of as many as 15 points, Long Beach couldn’t put the Wolfpack away during the first half.

The 49ers, who made eight steals during the half, made 10 of their first 15 shots and had a 30-16 lead on a three-point basket by center Chris Tower with 10 minutes gone.

Nevada drew to within 34-25 three minutes later on a 15-foot shot by reserve center Scott Saber.

But Long Beach outscored Nevada, 8-2, and led, 42-27, after Russell made the first of two free throws.

Nevada committed 15 turnovers during the half.