CORVALLIS – No. 16 USC spoiled Oregon State’s upset bid and a sensational performance by Dashawn Davis as the Trojans pulled out a 94-91 win in double overtime Thursday night at Gill Coliseum.
The Beavers, looking to end a 12-game losing streak, went toe-to-toe with the Pac-12′s second-place team, riding the hot hand of Davis. The junior guard, who during one stretch hit 10 consecutive shots, scored 19 points during the final 6:17 of regulation to force overtime.
USC finally struck the decisive blow in the second overtime, when Ethan Anderson hit a runner with 1:10 remaining to put the Trojans up 91-89. The Beavers had a chance for a third overtime, but Davis missed a three-pointer with two seconds left.
Davis scored a career-high 31 points, hitting 14 of 24 shots, while handing out seven assists. Jarod Lucas scored 18 for Oregon State (3-23, 1-15), and Maurice Calloo had 12.
USC (23-4, 13-4) had five players score in double figures, led by Drew Peterson with 23 points and Isaiah Mobley with 19. Peterson and Mobley had 10 rebounds each.
The Beavers shot 54% (35 of 65) from the floor, and made 9 of 18 shots from three-point range.
Oregon State gave a spirited performance during the first half that ended with USC holding a 40-33 halftime lead.
The Beavers led by as many as five points, and found themselves tied at 27 with 5:20 left before halftime. But OSU suddenly went cold from the floor, missing six consecutive shots as USC ran off 11 consecutive points for a 38-27 lead. The Beavers showed some life during the final minute, though, as Davis finished a 6-0 run with a steal and a thunderous dunk.
Energized from the finish to the first half, Oregon State caught fire coming out of the locker room. Lucas hit a pair of threes, and Glenn Taylor Jr. scored off a couple nice drives to fuel a 16-5 run and a 49-45 Beavers lead.
USC dug in and regained the lead at 50-49 as Peterson scored five consecutive points. The Trojans later took a 57-51, only to have Calloo hit a deep three to help OSU close to deficit to one point.
USC appeared to be on its way to finishing the Beavers when it ran off six straight points for a 63-56 lead. But OSU hung in there, as Davis got white hot, hitting seven consecutive shots to pull the Beavers to within 71-70 with 1:41 left.
Davis wasn’t finished. With USC leading 75-72 and OSU down to its final possession, Davis hit a straight-on three-pointer with 3.3 seconds to tie the game at 75, forcing overtime.
In overtime, USC grabbed an 83-81 lead on a baby hook by Mobley, but Davis countered with a six-foot bank shot to tie the game with 19 seconds left. Oregon State got a stop, and the teams were off to double overtime.
USC got the go-ahead basket in the second OT when Anderson scored with 1:10 left. The Trojans had a couple defensive stops and hit three free throws during the final 30 seconds to escape victoriously.
Next up for Oregon State is UCLA, as the schools play at 1 pm Saturday in Gill Coliseum.
–Nick Daschel | [email protected] | @nickdaschel
www.oregonlive.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism