CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon State is keeping opponents off balance with something a bit different each game.
The Beavers got 13 points apiece from Jarmal Reid and Gary Payton II to stretch their winning streak to three games with a 59-49 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday.
Reid was the surprise of this victory, coming off the bench for his second-best scoring performance of the season. And there was Olaf Schaftenaar, who had been quiet most of the game until he nailed a 3-pointer with just over a minute left to seal the win.
“We’re really hard to scout for because you never know where it’s coming from,” said guard Langston Morris-Walker, who had 10 points for the Beavers.
The loss extended Mississippi State’s road losing streak to 19 straight games. The Bulldogs’ last away victory came at Georgia in 2013.
Fred Thomas had 16 points and nine rebounds for Mississippi State, which falls to 5-3 after consecutive losses to TCU and Tulane. The Bulldogs haven’t lost three straight nonconference games since the 2012-13 season.
The Beavers have won three straight and are off to a 6-2 start under new coach Wayne Tinkle.
“I’m really proud of this group for how they’re playing hard and playing the right way.” Tinkle said. “Defensively, gosh we’re really guarding. If we continue to keep an open mind, and listen and learn, we’ll have a chance to continue to improve as we get closer to league (play), which is the important time.”
Oregon State led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but Mississippi State closed to within 51-47 on Gavin Ware’s layup with 4:26 to go. Malcolm Duvivier answered with a 3-pointer to hold the Bulldogs off and Schaftenaar’s 3-pointer with 1:02 left sealed it for Oregon State.
Payton, son of nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton, added eight rebounds. He had double-doubles in the previous three games for the Beavers.
While the Bulldogs struggled with seven early turnovers, the Beavers jumped out to a 16-2 lead on Reid’s dunk. Oregon State held a double-digit lead until Thomas hit back-to-back 3-pointers and a short jumper to pull Mississippi State within 21-18.
Bulldog guard Trivante Bloodman made a layup and a free throw to narrow the gap to 23-21, but Payton dunked to keep the Beavers in front.
Morris-Walker closed the half with a 3-pointer for a 30-23 Oregon State lead. Payton opened the second with a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 10.
Payton’s tip-in made it 39-36. The Beavers extended their lead to 41-26 on Payton’s jumper with 14:39 left in the game.
Thomas, the only Mississippi State player in double figures, said the Bulldogs struggled in practice and it carried over to the game.
As for extending the losing streak on the road, he said: “The tough part is the environment. It’s really hard to play in somebody else’s house.”
The Bulldogs struggled with 17 turnovers that led to 23 Oregon State points.
Gary Andersen, who was named Oregon State’s new head football coach this past week, was at the game and got a rousing ovation when he was introduced. Andersen, who has spent the last two seasons at Wisconsin, replaced Mike Riley, who left the Beavers to take the head coaching job at Nebraska.
TIP-INS
Oregon State: It was just the fifth time that an SEC basketball team had visited Gill Coliseum. The Beavers are now 3-2 against the conference at home. Schaftenaar was struggling with a hip flexor.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs hadn’t visited Oregon since the opening round of the 2009 NCAA tournament, when they lost to Washington in Portland.
UNDER THE WEATHER
Tinkle has been battling the flu and even missed a practice this week because of it. He said he still didn’t feel very well for Saturday’s game. “I’m feeling a lot better now because of our group effort.”
PLAYING THE PAC
The game was the first of a home-and-home for Mississippi State and Oregon State, set up when Craig Robinson was sill coach of the Beavers. Bulldogs coach Rick Ray was an assistant at Purdue when he met Robinson. The Beavers will play in Starkville in 2015.
UP NEXT
Oregon State hosts Grambling State on Monday.
