Oregon State
USC
Morris-Walker's 17 points Pace Beavers
February 15, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Los Angeles, Calif. – Junior guard Langston Morris-Walker scored 17 points to lead Oregon State but the Beavers fell 68-55 to USC on Saturday afternoon in a Pacific-12 Conference game at the Galen Center.
Morris-Walker hit 4 of 7 3-pointers to keep the Beavers (16-9, 7-6) within striking distance of the Trojans (10-15, 2-11) for much of the second half. However, an 18-3 run by USC encompassing both halves proved to be too much for OSU to overcome.
“I am proud of our guys, they kept battling,” OSU coach Wayne Tinkle said. “They were frustrated because a couple shots just weren't dropping but they kept playing hard.
“We've got what we've got. We just have to get home safely now, rest up and get ready for the next one,” against Utah at 8 p.m. Thursday. “We're coming back to protect Gill Coliseum,” where OSU is 14-0 this season, the best home start in school history.
Junior guard Gary Payton II had nine points, eight rebounds, six steals and four assists, junior center Daniel Gomis had 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists and sophomore guard Malcolm Duvivier added 10 points and four assists to complement Morris-Walker's production.
USC's transition game was the difference as it outscored OSU 23-4 on fast-break points. The Beavers forced 23 turnovers but they were unable to capitalize fully, converting them into just 15 points.
OSU was also hindered by cold shooting, especially in the second half, when they were 8 of 33 (.242) from the field. USC also blocked nine shots.
The Trojans earned a split on the season series. OSU prevailed 59-55 in Corvallis on Jan. 24 in the first meeting between the teams.
USC trailed 28-23 with 1:15 left in the first half but went on an 18-3run over the next seven minutes over both halves to zoom ahead 41-31 as the Beavers went cold. OSU pulled within five points several times but could not get any closer and eventually trailed by 13.
Morris-Walker had eight points, Payton II seven in the opening 20 minutes, enable OSU to take a 28-26 halftime lead. The Beavers twice led by as many as six points, but USC closed to within a basket on a dunk at the buzzer after an OSU turnover.
“That's where we let the game get away from us,” Tinkle said, speaking of the first half. “We should have been up 10 or 12, but we couldn't score. We were stuck on 23 and had some very uncharacteristic turnovers at the end of the half.
“We turned it over four of our last five possessions. We were defeating ourselves a little bit. We weren't finishing at the rim. They are an athletic team and made some blocks but we did not finish and missed some open shots.”
Thursday's aforementioned game with Utah will be televised by Pac-12 Networks.
“We've got to have some guys emerge, step up and find a way to finish,” Tinkle said. “I challenged the guys not to let fatigue be an excuse.
“We're only playing twice a week. Our guys have to find a way to get tough, keep locking arms and keep battling.”
OSU concludes the homestand at 8 p.m. Saturday against Colorado. That game will also be televised by Pac-12 Networks.
