CORVALLIS — Oregon State will avoid the Pac-10 tournament play-in game, but for coach Craig Robinson, Thursday’s win over Washington State was about something bigger — the beginning of new era.
“I couldn’t be prouder of these guys and how far they’ve come,” Robinson said after the Beavers held off a second-half challenge from the Cougars for a 59-55 win that guaranteed at least a seventh-place conference finish.
Jared Cunningham had 20 points, eight of the Beavers’ team-record 14 steals, and the game-clinching free throws before sharing the post-game interview podium with fellow freshman Joe Burton. Together they seemed to symbolize the promise of the future.
“I don’t necessarily want to say they are building a legacy,” said Robinson, who signed a two-year contract extension on Tuesday, “but to these guys that’s exactly what they are doing.”
The Beavers (14-15, 8-9 Pac-10) are just two years from an 0-18 conference season. They won six Pac-10 games last year in Robinson’s first year.
Roeland Schaftenaar added 10 points for Oregon State, which shot 52.2 percent from the field and forced 20 turnovers. Even so, the Beavers had to scramble to pull out the win after losing a huge lead.
Klay Thompson had 16 of his 18 points in the second half as WSU (16-13, 6-10) rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit. Nikola Koprivica had 12 points and Reggie Moore had 10 points on 10-of-11 free-throw shooting.
Thompson hit a floater with 59 seconds left to get the Cougars within 53-52, but Schaftenaar answered with a turnaround bank shot, and Seth Tarver and Cunningham each made two free throws to keep the game out of reach.
Washington State was abysmal in the first half. The Cougars were just 4 of 16 from the field and committed 15 turnovers as Oregon State led 33-15 at the break.
“We just kind of came out and respected their defense too much,” Koprivica said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t poised in the first half.”
Thompson hit three 3-pointers early in the second half for the Cougars, who erased almost the entire deficit with a 19-5 run.
DeAngelo Casto made 1 of 2 free throws for Washington State, cutting the lead to 40-39. But Lathen Wallace hit a 3 and Cunningham and Burton scored to give the Beavers a little breathing room.
“We just had to calm down and play our game,” Burton said. “We kept our composure and took it from there.”
The Cougars won the first meeting between the two teams 65-50 on Jan. 2. They started the season 10-2 but have lost eight of their last 10 games and entered the game tied with Oregon for last place in the Pac-10. They must beat the Ducks Saturday to have a chance to play in the conference tournament.
Oregon State is 11-1 when leading at halftime.
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