Pacific 10 Roundup : Oregon State Holds Off Arizona Rally, 59-55

Dean Derrah sank a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left and took a charging foul moments later to help 10th-ranked Oregon State hold on for a 59-55 Pacific 10 Conference basketball victory over Arizona Thursday night at Corvallis, Ore.

The Beavers (15-1 overall, 5-0 in the conference) never trailed after bolting to an 8-0 lead, but they had to withstand a rally that narrowed the margin to one point with 23 seconds left. The Wildcats dropped to 3-3 in the conference and 12-6 overall.

Freshman Craig McMillan sank two free throws with 23 seconds left to cut the Oregon State lead to 55-53. Pat Giusti of Oregon State sank one of two free shots, but Pete Williams scored inside to make it 56-55 with 12 seconds remaining.

Derrah made two free throws with 10 seconds left to lift the Beavers out of danger. The charging foul gave the ball to Oregon State, and Darrin Houston sank one of two free throws with five seconds left for the final margin.

Morgan Taylor of Arizona led all scorers with 18 points, and Williams added 17. Steve Woodside topped Oregon State with 15 points.

Oregon 81, Arizona State 72--Center Blair Rasmussen scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds at Eugene, Ore., to power the Ducks over the Sun Devils.

Oregon (2-4 in the conference, 9-10 overall) sank 13 of 15 free throws, 9 by the 7-foot Rasmussen, in the final two minutes to clinch the victory. ASU is 2-4 and 7-9.

Greg Trapp scored 16 for the Ducks, and Ron Singleton was high for the Sun Devils with 14.