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Oregon State traveled to Houston, Texas to play Rice at the Tudor Fieldhouse today. The Beavers extended their win streak to three with a 77-69 win. With the win they kept Rice winless on the season. It is a great start to the season, that sees Gary Payton and Langston Morris-Walker in their final season for Oregon State.
At the start of the game the Beavers looked to be a little shaky trading baskets with the Rice Owls. The Owls twice had leads of six, but couldn't extend it past that. With the Beavers down 21-17, Gary Payton ll went on a run by himself. He scored seven points to kept them in the game, hitting a three to tie it at 24-24. After Payton's run, Malcolm Duvivier hit a three to put them up for good 27-24. It was Duvivier second three to give the Beavers the lead.
The Beavers used the final six mintues to pull away from the Owls, extending their lead 44-33 at halftime. At one point the Beavers were 7 of 12 from the three point line while shooting 4 of 7 from inside the three point line in the first half. At the half Oregon State had racked up 11 fouls to Rice's 7. Gary Payton ll led the team with 12 points, with Malcolm Duvivier scoring 11.
Coming out after half-time the Beavers used their momentum to keep in firm control of the game. Never giving up the lead for the rest of the game. They pushed their lead to 52-33, before Marcus Evans hit a three to score the first points for the Owls at 15:54 in the second half.
Rice would make a late run in the closing seconds cutting to lead to 75-69 with 15 seconds left to go. The Beavers' Olaf Schaftenaar and Tres Tinkle each made a free throw to seal the game 77-69 as time ran out.
Gary Payton ll was his usual self, doing a little bit of everything. He finished the game with 19 points, five rebounds, seven assists, six steals and one block. Malcolm Duvivier added 14 points for the Beavers and coach's son Tres Tinkle added 12 points. The Owls were lead by Freshman guard Marcus Evans with 18 points.
Saturday the Beavers continue their road trip traveling to California to take on UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at 2pm.