COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Payton Is Difference in Oregon State Win

Gary Payton, who is used to making the big plays for Oregon State, did it for the second night in a row Saturday at Portland, Ore., as the 23rd-ranked Beavers beat Oregon, 71-68, for their third consecutive Far West tournament title.

The senior guard scored 30 points, including a pair of game-clinching free throws with six seconds to play.

Payton, who also had 13 assists, was named the tournament MVP for the third consecutive year as Oregon State won the championship for the 18th time in the event’s 34-year history.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Payton made the game-winning basket with nine seconds to play in the Beavers’ 82-81 semifinal victory over Louisiana Tech.

Against Oregon, the Beavers (9-2), never trailed and led by as many as 15 points in the second half.

But Oregon (7-4), which has never beaten the Beavers in nine tries in the tournament, moved to within 69-68 on two free throws by Mike Helms with 45 seconds to play.

After Earl Martin of Oregon State missed the first of a one-and-one with 36 seconds remaining, Oregon’s Terrell Brandon drove the lane but missed a layup.

Richard Lucas of Oregon grabbed the rebound, but Payton got his hands on the ball and the officials called a jump ball with seven seconds to play.

It was Oregon State’s turn to get the ball out of bounds. Payton was fouled on the inbounds play and, with six seconds left, made both ends of a one-and-one situation to clinch the victory.

No. 13 Duke 87, Hawaii 75--The Blue Devils had to rely on free throws to hold off the Rainbows and win the Rainbow tournament Saturday night at Honolulu.

Chris Gaines made a three-point shot to pull Hawaii to within five at 80-75, with 1:06 left. The Rainbows then repeatedly fouled Duke, which made seven of eight from the foul line in the final minute.

Gaines, who made only nine of 22 shots, led Hawaii with 26 points and was named the tournament’s outstanding player.

Duke improved to 8-2, while Hawaii dropped to 11-2 in front of its first sellout crowd since 1982.

Marquette 75, Morgan State 51--Trevor Powell scored nine straight points during a 12-2 run in the second half Sunday at Milwaukee that gave the Warriors (5-4) a 53-29 lead with 10:02 left and they went on to win easily.

Powell led all scorers with 25 points.