SOUTHLAND ROUNDUP

Long Beach State 71, UC Irvine 63--Down by nine points, the 49ers finished the first half with an 8-0 run, then opened the second half by outscoring Irvine, 19-3, on their way to the Big West Conference victory before 3,093 at the Pyramid.

Irvine (6-10, 3-3 in the Big West) got a three-point basket from Ben Jones to open the final half, then went 11 minutes 57 seconds before Lamarr Parker’s shot was good because Andrew Betts was guilty of goaltending.

The Anteaters got only three free throws in that time.

During the drought, Irvine turned the ball over four times and shot four airballs.

Long Beach (8-10, 3-3) took advantage of a mismatch between 6-foot-7 Antrone Lee and the Anteater guarding him, 5-8 Junior Bond in getting two quick baskets to begin its run. Lee finished with 12 points.

Long Beach center Andy Betts, who finished with 25 points after scoring only two on Thursday in a loss to Cal State Fullerton, had 10 points during the run.

Ben Jones had 18 points for the Anteaters, 15 of them coming on five three-point baskets.