HOOPS: Beavs lose inside game vs. Kansas

EVERY TIME YOU thought No. 10 Kansas would pull away, the Beavers fought back. In the end, though, Oregon State couldn't stop the Jayhawks in the paint, falling 84-78.

Kansas scored 54 points in the paint, many of them easy layups. They shot 60 percent from the field. Oregon State shot 40 percent from the field.

And yet this one was still neck-and-neck and the outcome was in doubt late in the second half.

Ahmad Starks torched was a big reason why, scoring 25 points. He was 7-of-13 from 3-point range.

Oregon State (4-2) first went on a 13-0 run that forced a 37-37 tie.

Kansas then built a 13-point advantage early in the second half. But again the Beavers rallied, trimming the lead to 64-61 and again at 80-77.

But OSU could never quite get over the hump.

Roberto Nelson had 17 points for Oregon State while Eric Moreland had five points and 16 rebounds as the Beavers tried to beat a ranked team on the road for the first time since 1985.

The Beavers were playing their second game since a knee injury ended the season for senior center Angus Brandt, and his inside presence was missed, as were his 11.3 points and 8.5 rebounds were missed. Oregon State hopes he'll be awarded a medical hardship and that the 6-10 senior will get another season in Corvallis in 2013-14.

"Mind you, we played this game without our starting center," said Oregon State coach Craig Robinson post-game. "He is a pretty good player. I'm hoping the silver lining is these guys will start to believe they are as good as our staff believes they are."