Another tale of two halves for Beavs

ANOTHER GAME WHERE Oregon State starts out strong in the first half. Another game in which the Beavs look like they could run away with it early. And another game in which the Beavs fade in the second half and come away with a loss.

In the end, Oregon State's final possession ended with the Beavs unable to even get off a shot. It was a fitting end to the second half, in a game OSU lost 71-68.

It was a night full of woulda, coulda, shoulda for the Beavers, who at one point led by 12 points in the second half.

OSU held the Pac-12's leading scorer Allen Crabbe five points below his average, with 15 points and eight rebounds.

The Bears (12-8, 4-4 Pac-12) set a season high with nine 3-pointers but sputtered on offense after a hot streak in the first half.

Roberto Nelson's three-point play with 15:49 remaining in the second half had given Oregon State a 52-40 lead. But Cal responded with a 7-0 run, and Cobbs later added a 3-pointer to pull the Bears within 59-56.

Cal took the lead but Oregon State pulled ahead twice afterwards. But they picked the worst time to go cold, managing only one basket over the final 3 minutes.

Both teams missed key opportunities late. None stood out more than OSU's last possession, where they failed to get off a shot attempt before the buzzer sounded.

"I'm taking the blame for that last play," Beavers coach Craig Robinson said. "Not getting a shot off ... just inexcusable."

Roberto Nelson scored 25 points while Burton had 14 points and eight assists for Oregon State (11-10, 1-7). The Beavers haven't won at Haas Pavilion since Jan. 22, 2009.

Oregon State led 30-18 on Nelson's 14-footer midway through the first half. The Beavers also got a big lift from Burton, who had six assists and helped shut down Cal's inside game. Burton is on pace to become the first non-guard in school history to lead the team in assists three consecutive years.