Oregon State Men’s Basketball Secures Home Win Over Washington State

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State men’s basketball team achieved its 10th straight home victory Thursday night, defeating Washington State 82-74 at Gill Coliseum.

Oregon State’s standout player, who finished the game with 21 points and eight rebounds, had been recognized earlier in the day as a Top-10 finalist for the Karl Malone Award.

Another key contributor scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, shooting 60% from the field. Complementing their efforts, a player recorded 15 points and five assists, hitting all seven of his free throw attempts during the game.

The Beavers showcased impressive depth as well, with a bench player contributing nine points and another tallying eight points along with five rebounds. Collectively, the Beavers shot 51.1% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. They also outscored the Cougars in bench points, 20-8.

Oregon State improved its season record to 17-7 and stands at 7-4 in West Coast Conference (WCC) play. The Cougars, on the other hand, started the game strong, initially taking a 9-1 lead. However, the Beavers managed to rally back, including a significant 7-0 run which allowed them to seize their first lead on a three-pointer with 9:30 left in the first half.

The teams exchanged leads, with Washington State entering the halftime break ahead, 37-36. Following the intermission, Oregon State opened the second half strong, scoring the first seven points to reclaim the lead at 43-37.

A pivotal three-point play by a player provided the Beavers a cushion of seven points as the game entered the final stretch. Despite threats from Washington State, who cut the deficit to 73-72 with just over four minutes remaining, key baskets from Rataj helped to secure the victory for Oregon State.

The Beavers will face Saint Mary’s on Saturday at 7 p.m., maintaining their recent momentum as they push further into the season.