Washington State hit 14 three-pointers, including its first eight, as the Cougars led wire-to-wire in burying Oregon State 80-62 Thursday night in Pullman, Wash.
After beating USC 61-58 last Saturday, Oregon State (10-17, 4-12 Pac-12) was looking for back-to-back conferences wins for the first time since late in the 2020-21 season. The Beavers never came close, as WSU scored the game’s first 11 points and had a double-digit lead the entire second half.
The 14 three-pointers was the most for an Oregon State opponent this season. The only time the Beavers gave up at least 10 three-pointers were games against Arizona. Washington State was 14 of 24 from behind the arc.
It was only the fifth time in 27 games that the Beavers gave up at least 80 points this season.
Oregon State freshman Tyler Bilodeau, returning to his home state for the first time in college, tied a career high with a team-high18 points. Another freshman, Michael Rataj, scored 11 for the Beavers.
Oregon State shot 48% (25 of 52), its second highest shooting percentage in a conference game this season.
Mouhamed Gueye shot 9 of 9 from the floor and led WSU with 21 points. Four of the Cougars’ five scorers reached double figures. Washington State shot 59% (29 of 49) from the floor, an OSU opponent high this season.
The Cougars led by as many as 18 points before settling for a 44-30 halftime lead. Washington State scored on its first four possessions, three resulting in three-pointers.
Eight of the Cougars’ first 10 baskets were three-pointers. It was infectious, too, as each of WSU’s five starters contributed to the eight three-pointers.
Washington State made 13 of its first 15 shots to take a 34-16 lead midway through the first half. Oregon State began chipping away, as the Beavers hit 10 of their first 16 shots. Christian Wright hit a three to cap an 8-2 run as OSU closed to within 36-26.
OSU briefly cut the deficit to 11 points early in the second half, but Washington State’s offense always had a response. After Dzmitry Ryuny’s jumper cut the WSU lead to 57-45 with 12:19 left, the Cougars went on a 11-2 run to establish a 21-point lead.
The Beavers didn’t get closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Oregon State plays its final regular season road game Saturday when the Beavers face Washington at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle at 5 p.m.
–Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel