Gazette-Times

FRESNO, Calif. - The streak is finally over.

Rickey Claitt led four players in double figures as the Oregon State men’s basketball team pulled away late in the second half to capture a 62-54 victory over Fresno State on Sunday afternoon at the Save Mart Center.

It was the first win for first-year coach Craig Robinson and the first since the Beavers defeated Northern Colorado on Dec. 19, 2007. The victory also snapped an 11-game losing streak in road games, dating back to a 77-53 win at Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 11, 2007.

The Beavers (1-4) had lost their first four games by a combined 14 points.

Down 40-39, the Beavers used a 13-2 run over a five-minute stretch to establish a lead they would not relinquish. The run was highlighted by a deep 3-pointer from Lathen Wallace, giving the Beavers a 52-42 advantage with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Fresno State tried to mount a late rally, however a tip-in by Roeland Schaftenaar and a late breakaway dunk by Seth Tarver sealed the victory for the Beavers.

Stellar defense in the second half gave the Beavers the advantage as Fresno State shot only 24.1 percent (7 of 29) from the floor over the final 20 minutes.

For the game, Fresno State was held to 37 percent (20 of 54) from the field as OSU shot more than 50 percent from the field (23 of 44) for the third time this season. Last season, the Beavers only managed to shoot 50 percent or better in two games.

Wallace and Omari Johnson each had 12 points in the win and Tarver added 11.

Oregon St. 62, Fresno St. 54

Oregon St. (1-4) — S.Tarver 5-10 1-2 11, Johnson 5-9 0-0 12, Deane 0-2 3-4 3, J.Tarver 1-5 2-2 4, Claitt 5-5 1-2 14, Hampton 0-0 0-0 0, Schaftenaar 3-6 0-0 6, Wallace 4-7 1-2 12. Totals 23-44 8-12 62.

Fresno St. (2-3) — Golubovic 5-11 0-0 13, George 2-9 2-2 6, Seay 2-4 2-2 6, Ladd 5-11 0-0 11, O’Neil 5-13 1-2 14, Cartwright 1-3 2-2 4, Green 0-2 0-0 0, Seals 0-0 0-0 0, Sperling 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-54 7-8 54.

Halftime — Tied 31-31. 3-Point Goals — Oregon St. 8-14 (Claitt 3-3, Wallace 3-5, Johnson 2-4, S.Tarver 0-2), Fresno St. 7-29 (Golubovic 3-8, O’Neil 3-9, Ladd 1-4, Green 0-1, Sperling 0-1, George 0-2, Seay 0-2, Cartwright 0-2). Fouled Out — Seay. Rebounds — Oregon St. 34 (J.Tarver 6), Fresno St. 26 (Golubovic 8). Assists — Oregon St. 16 (Schaftenaar 6), Fresno St. 15 (Cartwright 5). Total Fouls — Oregon St. 10, Fresno St. 14. A — 8,548.