CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon State Coach Wayne Tinkle said his team “drew a line in the sand” during a timeout with about three minutes left against UCLA, with the Beavers having blown nearly all of a 17-point lead.
“We came too far to give it up. We don’t lose the last four minutes at home,” he added.
Gary Payton II had 18 points and five steals as Oregon State held off a furious UCLA second-half rally to win 66-55 Thursday night.
Malcolm Duvivier added 19 points for the Beavers, (13-5, 4-2 Pac-12), who are undefeated at home this season in 11 games.
“We stuck together through thick and thin,” Duvivier said. “They had their runs and we didn’t let that overcome us. We just all knew we were going to win this game. We all just bought in and stuck to the game plan.”
Bryce Alford scored 18 and Norman Powell added 13 and 10 rebounds for the Bruins (11-8, 3-3).
“It’s going to be hard winning in someone else’s building shooting 30 percent,” said UCLA Coach Steve Alford. The Bruins shot 30.6 percent.
UCLA made 2 of 17 field goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, but Oregon State only led 13-6 before a 7-0 run by the Bruins tied it about 2 minutes later.
Payton scored 11-straight Oregon State points, including two consecutive steals and breakaway baskets — the second a highlight dunk — to give Oregon State a 24-15 lead with 3:06 left in the half.
In the first half, “He dominated the game every way you could do it,” Alford said.
The Beavers led 29-19 halftime and a 3-pointer by Langston Morris-Walker made it 47-30 with 9:28 remaining.
But UCLA roared back with an 18-4 run, fueled in part by timely 3-pointers and Beaver turnovers.
“We lost some shooters a few times, we turned it over a few times, got a little tentative,” Tinkle said.
The Bruins cut the lead to two, 52-50, on a lay-in by Gyorgy Goloman with 2:35 left.
Olaf Schaftenaar responded with a 3-pointer on the next possession to give Oregon State a much-needed cushion and the Beavers held on to win.
Payton entered Thursday leading Oregon State with 11.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game, second best in the nation. He is the son of Gary Payton, a former All-American for the Beavers and NBA great.
Alford, son of coach Steve Alford, led the Bruins with 15.7 points and 5.7 assists per game entering the contest.
TIP INS
UCLA was leading the Pac-12 with 41.3 rebounds per game entering the week. The Bruins outrebounded the Beavers 35-32. . The Bruins are 9-1 at Pauley Pavilion this season.
Oregon State ranked 10th in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 36.6 percent before Thursday’s game. Victor Robbins, suspended 10 games for violating team rules, will be eligible to return Feb. 19. He was averaging 10.3 points per game, third on the team.
STREAKING AT GILL
Oregon State’s men’s and women’s teams are both undefeated at home this season. The men’s team’s 13-5 record is their best since the 1989-90 team opened 15-3.
PARKER OUT
Bruins forward Tony Parker, averaging 10.8 points and 7.4 rebounds, missed the game with back spasms, and is considered day-to-day. “We weren’t able to get the ball inside like we want, and Tony is a big part of that,” Coach Alford said.
FANTASTIC FROSH
Entering Thursday, UCLA Forward Kevon Looney was the only freshman in the country averaging a double-double, with 13 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He had 10 points and 11 rebounds against the Beavers.
UP NEXT
UCLA plays at Oregon on Saturday.
Oregon State hosts Southern California on Saturday.
