Long Beach Makes Bid for a Berth : Big West: 49ers earn 22nd victory by knocking out 23rd-ranked New Mexico State in tournament semifinal.

It was the biggest game Cal State Long Beach had played since the early 1970s, the glory years when Jerry Tarkanian was the coach and Ed Ratleff was the star.

And Long Beach won it.

In a victory Saturday night that could put them into the NCAA tournament, the 49ers defeated 23rd-ranked New Mexico State, 90-85, in the semifinals of the Big West Conference tournament at the Long Beach Arena.

Long Beach will play Nevada Las Vegas in the 3 p.m. final today. UNLV routed Pacific, 99-72, in the other semifinal.

“That should do it,” 49er guard Tyrone Mitchell said. “I’d be very hurt if we didn’t get a berth.”

The 49ers (22-7) won their ninth consecutive game, their longest winning streak in 16 years, and once again it was Mitchell and Lucious Harris that led them.

Long Beach last won 22 games under Tex Winter 10 years ago. Tarkanian won 26 games in 1972-73 and Lute Olson won 24 in 1973-74. The 49ers last made the conference tournament final in 1980.

Harris, who scored 23 points Friday night against Utah State, had 30 against the Aggies. He made nine of 10 field goal attempts and was 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.

“That freshman . . . unbelievable,” New Mexico State Coach Neil McCarthy said of Harris. “Wow, that’s some kind of freshman. He played an incredible game. “

Said Long Beach Coach Joe Harrington: “Not many freshmen in the country are going to score 30 points in a tournament game.”

With 2:41 to play and Long Beach’s 16-point lead down to five, Harris had the ball stolen by Randy Brown, who made the layup to bring the Aggies within 81-78.

“I had to retaliate,” Harris said.

So he immediately drove to the basket, drawing a foul. He made both free throws.

Harris then ripped the ball from Keith Hill as Hill was backing toward the basket. Harris raced the length of the court and dunked to put the 49ers ahead, 85-78, with 2:07 left.

Then, after a missed shot by James Anderson, the 6-foot-5 Harris pulled down the rebound.

Harris and Mitchell each made both shots of one-and-one free-throw opportunities in the last 1:03.

“We’ve won every single close game,” said Harrington, whose team is 12-0 in games decided by six points or less. “We bend but we don’t break. I felt confident with Tyrone in there that he wouldn’t let that happen.”

Mitchell had 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and did not make a turnover. He has had 35 assists and just four turnovers in the last four games.

The 49ers got off to a great start, hitting 72% of their shots in the first half, and 61% for the game.

Harris was seven of seven from the field and had 20 points by halftime.

Two three-point baskets by Harris and one by Troy Joseph increased a 10-6 lead to 19-8 with less than seven minutes elapsed.

“They got every loose ball and we were flat,” McCarthy said.

The lead was steadily increased to 16 as the Long Beach reserves contributed.

Frankie Edwards came in and and made two quick baskets and a free throw. Mike Masucci also hit a couple of shots.

The 49ers had to play the last five minutes of the half without Mitchell, who had three fouls, but lost only two points off their lead and were ahead, 52-38, at halftime.

Everything went well for Long Beach, including foul shooting, which has plagued them most of the season. The 49ers made 18 of their first 20 free throws.

In the second half, New Mexico State (26-4) kept whittling the lead. But whenever the Aggies got within eight, seven or six points, the 49ers would respond with a big play.

“When we got it down to three, I thought we’d pull it off,” McCarthy said.

Hill had 28 points for the Aggies and James Anderson had 20.

It was the second time this season the 49ers defeated the Aggies.

When asked if he thought Long Beach would get into the NCAA tournament, Harrington said: “I can’t believe you’re asking me that. That’s an insult.

“I think we deserve to be among the final 64 teams. That’s as strong as I can put it.”

“I just can’t believe we’re in the final against Vegas,” he said.