LONG BEACH — Much like it did in its previous victory, the Long Beach State men’s basketball team took over down the stretch of its Big West Conference game against Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night.

Colin Slater scored 10 of his 19 points in the final eight minutes, helping Long Beach pull away for a 71-61 victory over the Titans in a battle for sole possession of first place at the Walter Pyramid.

LBSU (13-9 overall, 8-1 Big West) has won nine straight games, its longest winning streak since winning 12 in a row during the 2011-12 season.

“It was a dogfight,” Long Beach coach Dan Monson said. “I don’t think either team felt like they played especially well, but I thought both teams played really hard. More than being proud, I think, as a coach, I’m just happy for them.”

Slater wasn’t the only key contributor in the closing minutes for Long Beach.

Jadon Jones made two 3-pointers in the final four minutes and his steal with 42 seconds remaining set up a dunk by Jordan Roberts for a convincing 70-61 lead.

Jones scored 15 points and Roberts had 13.

“Jordan Roberts has been five years in this program to play in a game like (Tuesday),” Monson said. “Don’t be happy just to be in a game like this, go in this game to take it.”

Fullerton (14-7, 7-2) was led by Jalen Harris and Tray Maddox Jr., each with 15 points off the bench.

“You tip your hat to Long Beach, they executed better in the second half,” Fullerton coach Dedrique Taylor said. “We missed too many shots down the stretch.”

The Titans took a 38-29 lead on a 3-pointer by Tory San Antonio with 17:49 left in the game, but Fullerton went the next 7:14 without a field goal while Long Beach unleashed a 12-0 run to take a 41-38 lead.

The score was tied 54-54 when Jones sank a 3-pointer in transition from the baseline with 3:56 left, and Slater followed with his second straight deep 3-pointer for a 60-54 lead with 2:58 to go.

Fullerton got back within one possession, but Roberts converted a three-point play with 1:29 left and Jones sank another 3-pointer for a 68-61 lead with 58 seconds remaining.

“I really felt like we battled through the adversity,” said Monson, who earned his 400th career win (230 of them with Long Beach). “We’ve got a long ways to go. … It’s just the beginning, but it’s the beginning of something really cool for our guys.”

The Titans shot 12 for 22 from 3-point distance in a 75-61 win against visiting Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday night, but they struggled to find their shooting touch in the first half against Long Beach, shooting 31.4% from the floor and 3 for 11 from behind the arc.

Fullerton helped itself on the offensive glass, however, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds in the opening half and owning a 10-2 advantage in second-chance points.

The Titans used a 7-0 run to take their biggest lead of the first half at 31-20, but Long Beach closed the first half with an 8-2 run.

Joel Murray and Jones hit 3-pointers before Roberts scored in transition with 15 seconds left to cut Fullerton’s lead to 33-28 lead at halftime.

“We got lazy with our passes and just didn’t execute down the stretch,” Taylor said. “It cost us.”