CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — Oregon State overcame an 18-point first-half deficit with a dominant second-half performance to defeat Washington State 74-64 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday night at Gill Coliseum. The Cougars led 34-23 at halftime, but the Beavers erupted for 51 second-half points. Josiah Lake led Oregon State with 22 points, while Johan Munch added 18. Ace Glass III scored 17 for Washington State. Oregon State improved to 13-12 overall. Washington State fell to 11-14.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — A stunning second-half reversal powered Oregon State to a 74-64 victory over Washington State in a Pac-12 men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers, who trailed by 11 points at halftime, outscored the Cougars 51-30 after the break to flip the script and secure the season-series split. The win improved Oregon State to 13-12 overall, while Washington State fell to 11-14. The first half belonged entirely to the visiting Cougars, who built their lead on the strength of perimeter shooting and stifling interior defense. Washington State connected on six three-pointers before halftime, with Ace Glass III and Jerone Morton each hitting a pair. Defensively, the Cougars blocked five shots, with ND Okafor swatting three Oregon State attempts in the paint, contributing to the Beavers’ frigid 23-point half on 25% shooting. Everything changed after intermission. Oregon State emerged with renewed aggression, attacking the basket relentlessly. The Beavers, who had managed just 14 points in the paint in the first half, poured in 22 in the second, finishing with a dominant 36-14 advantage for the game. This interior onslaught was fueled by a dramatic shift in ball security. After committing nine first-half turnovers leading to seven Washington State points, Oregon State did not commit a single turnover in the second half, while converting nine Cougar giveaways into 12 points. The catalyst for the Beavers’ surge was sophomore guard Josiah Lake. The Tualatin native, held to just two points in the first half, erupted after the break. He scored 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second period, driving to the rim and drawing fouls. His personal 7-0 run early in the half, capped by a steal and a thunderous dunk, ignited the Gill Coliseum crowd of 3,626 and gave Oregon State its first lead since the opening minutes at 38-36. Lake’s backcourt mate, Keziah Ekissi, provided critical playmaking, dishing out all four of his assists in the second half. Meanwhile, Danish big man Johan Munch became an immovable force inside for Oregon State. He scored 16 of his 18 points after halftime, finishing efficient offensive rebounds and serving as a primary target in the paint. He added four steals and a block, anchoring the Beavers’ defensive effort. Washington State’s offense, so fluid in the first half, completely stalled against Oregon State’s tightened defense. The Cougars shot just 28.6% from the field in the second half and made only four of their 16 three-point attempts. Glass III led the Cougars with 17 points, but was limited down the stretch. Okafor provided 13 points and three blocks, but the Cougars’ offense lacked answers as the Beavers methodically pulled away. A key sequence with just over six minutes remaining effectively sealed the game. With Oregon State leading 51-49, Munch blocked a Morton layup, leading to a fast break where Ekissi found Munch for a layup. On the ensuing inbound, Munch stole the pass and converted another layup, stretching the lead to six points and forcing a Washington State timeout. The Cougars would not get closer than four points the rest of the way. The victory marked a significant rebound for Oregon State, which had lost four of its last five games. Washington State, which had won three straight coming in, saw its momentum halted by the second-half collapse. The Cougars will look to regroup at home against Santa Clara on Saturday, while Oregon State prepares for a tough home test against Gonzaga the same day.

Preview: Washington State at Oregon State CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in the second half of the season will meet Wednesday when the Oregon State Beavers host the Washington State Cougars in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Gill Coliseum. The matchup features teams with nearly identical records. Oregon State (12-12) enters at .500, while Washington State (11-13) looks to climb back to an even mark. Both squads are coming off road victories last Saturday. Washington State arrives with confidence after a dominant 104-74 home win over Portland. The Cougars have won three of their last four games, with their only loss in that stretch a narrow 96-92 defeat at San Diego. Their offense has been potent during this run, averaging 86.3 points in those three wins. A key catalyst for the Cougars is guard Eemeli Yalaho, who is coming off a career-high 26 points in 31 minutes against Portland. Over his last seven games, Yalaho is averaging 12.3 points and has scored in double figures four times, including a 21-point performance at San Francisco. Oregon State is riding a two-game winning streak after an overtime victory at San Diego, 78-76, followed by a 72-69 win at Loyola Marymount. The Beavers have shown resilience, winning three of their last five contests. The Beavers are led by guard Josiah Lake, who logged 41 minutes and dished out eight assists in the overtime win at San Diego. Lake has been a consistent playmaker, averaging 5.6 assists over his last seven games while also contributing 12.4 points per contest in that span. This game is a quick rematch of a Jan. 4 meeting in Pullman, where Washington State secured an 81-67 victory. The Cougars will aim for a regular-season sweep. Following this contest, both teams face tough tests on Saturday. Oregon State will host Gonzaga, while Washington State returns home to face Santa Clara. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST Wednesday.