Beavs drop hoops opener to Howard, 47-45

IN THE OSU HOOPS SEASON OPENER, and the first game of the Craig Robinson era at Oregon State, the Beavers fought back from a 8-point second half deficit but came up short at the end, dropping a 47-45 decision to Howard.

Late in the game, Oregon State trimmed the deficit to 46-45 on two free throws by Seth Tarver but with a chance to take the lead, Daniel Deane was called for traveling with 10 seconds left in the game.

After a Howard free throw, Deane's runner to force overtime rimmed out at the buzzer.

Seth Tarver had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first half, finishing with a team-high 10. He was the only Beaver in double figures.

Oregon State held Howard to 9-of-29 from 3-point range but shot only 4-of-17 from long range themselves. The Beavs' first year head coach Craig Robinson, brother-in-law to President Elect Barack Obama, is looking to implement a more active, motion offense at OSU with an increased focus on the defensive end.

The Associated Press reported a couple dozen fans, including a few wearing Obama memorabilia, rushed the Howard bench after one of the school's biggest wins in recent memory.

Howard is expected to be at the bottom of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this season after winning only six games a year ago, although they did return every player save for one graduating senior.

On the night, Oregon State shot a chilly 37 percent from the field, though Howard was even colder, at 36 percent. The Beavs connected on only 4-of-17 (23 percent) from beyond the arc.

Oregon State held the rebounding edge 34-30 but came up short to Howard in assists (11 to 5) and steals (4 to 3).

OSU’s home opener is Nov. 24 against Yale.

The Beavs have now lost 22 straight, a losing streak that dates back to Dec. 19.

The Oregonian's Rachel Bachman, in Washington D.C. for the game, reported Oregon State's offense "looked tired" in the first half with many of the OSU shots coming up short.