TONIGHT

* LONG BEACH STATE (8-3) at IDAHO (6-6), 7, KPLS (830)--The 49ers open Big West Conference play on one of their hottest streaks under fourth-year Coach Wayne Morgan. They have won six consecutive games, and after beating up on cream puffs Cal State Monterey Bay and Albany (N.Y.), the 49ers defeated Kansas State on the road, 70-64, on Jan. 4. Long Beach State’s big men dominated against Kansas State, with center Mate Milisa and power forward James Williams each scoring 20. In their last six games, the 49ers have increased their shooting percentage from .430 to .493. Long Beach State won at Idaho in last season’s conference opener.