OSU Comeback Falls Short

by osubeavers.com
Nov 7, 2014

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State cut an 18-point second-half deficit to six points but could not complete the comeback and the Beavers fell 57-47 to Western Oregon on Friday night in a non-counting exhibition game at Gill Coliseum.

A crowd of 4,515 was on hand for the start of the Wayne Tinkle coaching era at OSU. Tinkle was hired on May 19 after a successful eight-year run at Montana.

The Beavers never led and Western Oregon held a double-digit advantage for most of the first half. A 3-pointer by Andy Avgi just before the buzzer gave the Wolves a 32-19 halftime lead.

WOU stretched that advantage to 18 points, 41-23, with 13:11 remaining before the Beavers made their run at the lead. They outscored WOU 22-10 over the next 10 minutes to draw within 51-45 on a Jarmal Reid basket with 2:26 to play, but they could get no closer.

WOU’s Jordan Wiley answered Reid’s basket with a 3-pointer to stretch the margin back to 54-45 with 2:17 remaining and the Wolves held on.

"They responded to the halftime stuff and, I thought, showed a lot more energy and I think they understood," Tinkle said of the Beavers. "I  said it in practice the other day there isn’t a team on our schedule, starting with Western Oregon, that we could look at and mark down a ‘W.’ It’s just not going to be possible.

"This can be good. We’ve been on the other side where we were expected to beat a lot of teams and that can get you a bit complacent. I think my guys learned that lesson tonight.”

Junior guard Gary Payton II had 10 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three blocked shots and two steals in his OSU debut. His father, former OSU All-American Gary Payton, was at the game.

“He’s a guy that can bring a lot of different things," Tinkle said of the younger Payton. "Wish we didn’t have to play him as much, but Gary is the kind of kid that is not happy with his performance [after the loss].

"He missed a couple of open looks or a defensive assignment. If we have everybody take that approach – ‘I could have done better’ – then we can build this as we move forward.”

Added Payton: "We were a little jittery coming out. You could see in the second half that all of those butterflies and things went away and we got into a rhythm we need. We just need to come out like that in the first half.”

Sophomore guard Malcolm Duvivier added 10 points and five rebounds and junior forward Olaf Schaftenaar had nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

OSU shot 16 of 45 (.356) from the floor and 12 of 26 (46.2) from the free-throw line. The Beavers outrebounded WOU 48-37 and blocked 11 shots.

“All we were really looking to accomplish was how hard we were going to play and how much we were going to play together," Tinkle said. "We obviously don’t know much about ourselves yet.

"We’ve got guys who haven’t played a whole lot and we’re all new and together in this. [Western Oregon] outplayed us, effort wise; I think they were more together than us.”

Avgi had 21 points, Wiley 12 and Devon Alexander 10 for WOU.

The Beavers open the regular season against Rice at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at Gill Coliseum. The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

“This is what Beaver Basketball is all about – win, lose, draw, we’re going to play our tails off," Tinkle said. "We’re going to play really smart and we’re going to play together. We can accept what happens, to a degree, if we do those things. This is building block number one.”

Oregon State is offering an exclusive #Commit2Wayne ticket plan that provides fans with season tickets for a flat $199 (tickets were $364 last season). The price will gradually step up the following seasons ($249, $299, $349) but remain affordable, and there is no obligation to commit to all four years.

Season tickets will be $349 next year and beyond for fans who do not take advantage of this unique opportunity this year. Fans can secure their season tickets for a $25 deposit by calling 800-GO-BEAVS or visiting beavertickets.com.

GAME NOTES