On Tuesday, it wasn't the hyped debut of C.J. Giles that gave the Beavers a win, it was the fact that Oregon State was the better team.
Oregon State took the lead for good with 11:46 left in the first half, and never looked back. Oregon State then went on a 27-5 run towards the end of the first half, and took a 22 point lead at the break.
However, Oregon State had problems adding to the lead in the second half. Oregon State outscored the Roadrunners by 22 in the first half, but only by 2 in the second.
Now, getting back to C.J.... it was a shaky first start for C.J, as it only took him six minutes to foul out. He had one block, two points (both free throws), two rebounds, and three turnovers. Not the night C.J. wanted with 14 NBA scouts in attendance, but hey, it's hard to play at a high level when you haven't played a game in 20 months. The Oregonian's Mike Tokito was at the game, and his story is here.
Marcel Jones led the team in points with 18. He was 7 of 14 shooting, and was 3 of 6 from three point range. He had seven boards in his 29 minutes.
Seth Tarver scored 12 points, was 5 of 13 shooting, and 1 of 5 from three point range. He had a team high 8 rebounds, and had four assists. His brother Josh had a game high for assists with 7.
Roeland Schaftenaar and Lathen Wallace were also in double figures for the Beavers, each with 11 points.
Joey McConnell and Kyle Bjornstad both got into the game. Kyle played a minute and got two points off of free throws. Joey didn't score, and is still looking for his first points of the season.
Oregon State shot 48.3%, 29 of 60. We were 72% from the line, and made a third of our three point baskets. Oregon State outrebounded Cal State Bakersfield 49-37, even though Bakersfield had three more offensive rebounds than the Beavers.
With the win, Oregon State moves to 5-3 on the season. The Beavers return home for two games against Tennessee Tech and Northern Colorado, before they head to Baton Rouge to play LSU. After that, the Beavers play host to Montana State on the 30th of December, their final tune-up before the Pac-10 season. In 2008, the Beavers get Arizona right of the bat on the 3rd, and then it's all Pac-10 from there.
GO BEAVERS!
--JB--