Can Oregon State Beavers Bounce Back After Maples Pavilion Showdown?
The Oregon State Beavers, unranked this season, faced a challenging opponent in the eighth-ranked Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. The contest ended with the Beavers trailing at 56-65, marking another notch in their season record of 2-4. The Cardinal improved their record to 5-1.
The game was a tale of fluctuating fortunes as the lead changed hands eight times and the score was tied on six occasions, indicating a closely fought battle. The Beavers started steadily with an even first quarter but found themselves trailing by halftime after being outscored by six points in the second quarter. A spirited third-quarter performance saw them netting 21 points, their highest in any quarter during this game, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Cardinal who managed to maintain their lead throughout.
Oregon State's shooting from inside the arc was respectable at forty-three percent success rate on thirty-seven attempts. However, they struggled beyond the three-point line with only twenty-five percent of their shots finding the net from twenty attempts. Their free throw accuracy was impressive though; they converted eighty-two percent of their eleven free throws.
Defensively, Oregon State managed to secure thirty-eight rebounds equally split between offensive and defensive efforts. They also recorded three blocks and one steal but were outdone by Stanford's nine steals which contributed significantly to seventeen points off turnovers for the home team.
The Beavers' ball handling could have been better; they turned over possession thirteen times compared to just five by Stanford. This discrepancy played into Stanford's hands as they capitalized on these opportunities more effectively than Oregon State did on theirs – scoring seventeen points off turnovers compared to just five by Oregon State.
Despite these challenges, there were bright spots for Oregon State fans: twenty-six points were scored in paint showing effective close-range play and eleven second-chance points reflected a determination that could serve them well going forward.
Looking ahead for Oregon State Beavers fans: The next game is set against Colorado Buffaloes at Gill Coliseum located in Corvallis on January 26th at 8:00 PM local time (PST). Fans can catch all live action broadcasted on Pac-12 Network as both teams vie for victory on home turf.