Arizona Intimidates Cal State Long Beach : College basketball: 49ers shoot 18% in the first half against the Wildcats in losing, 95-68.

TUCSON — The debate Saturday, after No. 2-ranked Arizona routed Cal State Long Beach, 95-68, was over how much the Wildcats’ tall, intimidating front line had to do with the 49ers’ startling shooting inaccuracy.

Long Beach (1-2) made only eight of 44 field-goal attempts in the first half (18%), then started the second half by making one of 14.

Many of the shots were taken close to the basket, where 6-foot-11 Brian Williams, 6-11 Sean Rooks and 7-foot Ed Stokes lurked.

“When it comes back as fast as you put it up, it kind of affects things,” said Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg, whose team again showed little of its preseason promise.

Williams, Rooks and Stokes each had three blocked shots and Arizona finished with 12, but many times the Wildcats didn’t even have to try for a block.

“It’s a mind thing,” said 49er forward Frankie Edwards, who had a game-high 16 rebounds. “We’d pump-fake, thinking someone was going to jump. Then no one would jump, and we’d still miss.”

Arizona Coach Lute Olson had a similar assessment. “Some of their poor shooting (32% for the game) was because of the challenge of our size,” he said. “But they had some good shots they just didn’t put down.”

The 49ers’ outside shooting wasn’t any better, adding to the comfort of the afternoon for Arizona (6-0), which extended its home winning streak to 51 before 13,811 fans.

The game was won in the first 10 minutes when Arizona built a 29-9 lead on 10-of-16 shooting, including two three-pointers by Matt Othick and one by Matt Muehlebach. By then, Long Beach was way over the limit in fouls, which allowed the Wildcats to pad the lead from the free-throw line. They led, 47-22, at the half.

Olson played his reserves in the second half, a 46-46 standoff.

Six Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Stokes, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds. Othick had 13 points and seven assists.

“Stokes was the best I’ve seen him,” Olson said. “Some other guys made some great plays, but in terms of consistency, he was the best.”

Greenberg expected the 49ers to play better against a team he said he probably shouldn’t have scheduled. “Everything they do is very simple, but it’s very effective because they have very good players,” he said. “But I didn’t expect to shoot 18% in the first half.”

Only one 49er shot more than 33% from the field. Lucious Harris scored 26 points but shot only 29%.

“Twenty-six points look good, but eight of 28 doesn’t look good,” Olson said. “I thought Muehlebach did a great job on Harris. Eight of 28 is not going to beat us.”