Irvine Is Answer for Oregon State

The team that seemed to be coming of age Thursday wasn’t that reclamation project from UC Irvine.

Oregon State, picked by many to finish near the bottom of the Pacific 10 Conference, won its fourth consecutive game, 65-43, over the Anteaters before 1,182 at the Bren Center.

The victory ended a 21-game road losing streak and left Oregon State at 4-0 for the first time since 1986-87.

“Our guys were real hungry to get a win on the road,” Beaver Coach Eddie Payne said. “They wanted that streak to end. They felt like this was a step in the right direction.”

Oregon State, 7-20 last season, used three sophomores and two freshman for at least 18 minutes.

Corey Benjamin, a sophomore from Fontana High, was the most impressive, with 21 points on a variety of shots--ranging from flying dunks to smooth jump shots.

The Anteaters (1-4) trailed, 34-19, at halftime, but cut the Beavers’ lead to 46-34 with 10 minutes left. Benjamin scored nine points down the stretch on three dunks and a three-point basket.

The Beavers were 10 of 17 from three-point range and shot 50% overall.

Ben Jones led Irvine with 17 points. Adam Stetson had 15.

Irvine, which has not beaten a Division I team this season, shot 34% and had one field goal in the last eight minutes.

“It’s a little frustrating,” Stetson said. “They picked up their intensity and we stayed at the same level. This was a step backward.”