Beavs hang on for dear life - and win

THIS TIME Oregon State didn't blow a big first half lead. Well, they didn't blow all of it anyway. The Beavs could smile after this one, though, and that was the most important thing of all.

Roberto Nelson had 17 points and Oregon State held off a crazy late-game surge to beat Washington State 67-66 on Wednesday night.

Eric Moreland added 11 points and 14 rebounds, and Challe Barton had 11 points and three 3-pointers, as Oregon State (13-12, 3-9 Pac-12) handed Washington State its fifth straight loss.

DaVonte Lacy had a career-high 27 points and hit seven 3-pointers, and Brock Motum added 16 points, for Washington State (11-14, 2-10).

Oregon State lost a 15-point second-half lead after a 20-6 Cougars run.

The Beavs with less than seven minutes remaining had a 13-point edge but OSU went cold and WSU started hitting from outside.

D.J. Shelton hit back-to-back 3-pointers to at the end of the run to pull WSU within 64-63 with a minute remaining. Nelson's tip-in on the next possession made it 66-63 but he missed the and-one free throw.

Washington State the next trip down had a good look at a 3-pointer -- but missed. After that, it was all over. WSU was forced to foul, and Langs Morris-Walker made a free throw to seal the victory. Lacy hit a meaningless 3-pointer at the buzzer.