Stephen Thompson Jr. again got to play savior for the Beavers in the final seconds, but he had help this time in Gary Payton ll. Thompson hit two free throws with 29 seconds to go, to give the Beavers a 57-55 lead. Colorado's George King went to the line, but could only manage to make one free throw. Thompson again found himself at the line this time with 14 seconds left. He made first, his second he missed, Gary Payton ll got the ball on a great hustle play, and then was fouled. Payton would seal the game as he made both free throws to put the Beavers up 60-56. Colorado ran out of time, making that the final score, and for the second home game in a row, the game was decided in the final seconds.
The game opened up with the Buffaloes going up five on the Beavers, Olaf Schaftenaar hit a three to get the Beavers into the game. Down nine to four, the Beavers went on an eight point run with Stephen Thompson Jr. scoring six and Payton added a pair of free throws. The Beavers had finally came alive, and finshed the first half strong with a 30-19 lead over the Buffaloes.
Colorado's Xavier Talton sparked an eight point run with back to back three's, after two minutes into the second half the Beavers only had a three point lead. At 9:55 the Buffaloes would take their first lead of the second half with a three, Oregon State would answer back with a three from Langston Morris-Walker to them a one point lead. The rest of the game was a dog fight, as both teams exchanged the lead and went to the free throw line multipe times.
Xavier Talton again came up big as he tied the game 55-55 with another three late into the second half. Both teams went almost two minutes without scoring. Thompson and Payton would then take over at the free throw line to finish the game.
Gary Payton ll was a defensive monster, with seven steals and one block, the Beavers as a team had 16 steals and force the Buffaloes into 24 turnovers. Payton added 17 points, six rebounds, four assists. The only other Beaver in double figures was Stephen Thompson Jr., who added 14 points. Colorado was led by Tre'shaun Fletcher with 15.
Oregon State with the win improves to ( 14-8, 5-6 Pac-12), while Colorado drops to ( 17-7, 6-5 Pac-12). The Beavers go on the road next Thursday, hoping to improve their 2-5 record against Stanford at 8pm on FS1
