Casper Ware scored 22 points and Long Beach State closed the game on a 24-8 run to defeat Cal State Northridge 79-62 Saturday night.
Larry Anderson added 17 points and Greg Plater 14 for the 49ers (15-10, 10-2 Big West), who solidified their hold on first place in the conference. T.J. Robinson had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Northridge (10-15, 7-5), which entered the game in a second-place tie with Cal Poly, was led by Rashaun McLemore with 15 points. Lenny Daniel added 14 and Josh Greene 12. Michael Lizarraga had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Long Beach led 55-54 with 7:49 left in the game before Ware hit four free throws, Plater nailed a 3-pointer and Eugene Phelps scored on a fast-break dunk during a 9-1 run to extend the lead to 64-55.
Northridge shot just 36.4 percent from the field and 56.7 percent (17 for 30) from the free-throw line.
