Corvallis, OR – In a game that would experience six ties and 16 lead changes, it came down to a few possessions. Wyoming displayed great defense holding Oregon State without a field goal for the final 5:46 of the game to secure a 76-73 road victory. The Beavers’ 6-5 senior Ethan Thompson was the game’s high scorer with 20 points (4-13 FG, 2-3 3PT, 10-13 FT). He drew fouls using his physique to create space. He added four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
The game started with Wyoming’s 6-2 freshman guard Marcus Williams knocking down a jump shot. He is talented, very quick, clever, and skilled with the ball in his hands. Williams would finish with 11 points (5-11 FG, 1-1 FT), five rebounds, five assists and three steals. It was a competitive first half as both teams displayed aggressiveness, diving on the floor for loose balls. Oregon State opened up their largest lead of the half as 6-3 sophomore guard Gianni Hunt hit a three pointer as the halftime buzzer sounded to give the Beavers a 48-42 lead. Hunt would finish the game with 10 points (3-4 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-3 FT), three rebounds, four assists, and two steals in just 14 minutes of play.
Oregon State built a 10-point lead 52-42 early in the second half, however the combination of Wyoming’s skilled guards and forwards were lethal, starting with 6-5 sophomore Kenny Foster. Foster led the Cowboys attack with 19 points (6-10 FG, 3-5 3PT, 4-7 FT) to go along with five rebounds while playing consistently hard on both ends of the floor. Foster scored five points in the final minute of play, converting 3-of-4 free throws in the final 16 seconds to close out the game. 6-8 smooth freshman forward Jeremiah Oden has a bright upside and scored 15 points (7-10 FG, 1-3 3PT) and four rebounds. 6-4 freshman guard Xavier Dusell is strong, quick and explosive driving to the basket. He contributed 14 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 3 PT, 2-2 FT).
6-10 sophomore Dearon Tucker scored Oregon State’s final field goal of the game to give them a 68-63 lead. He would finish the game with 16 points (4-4 FG, 8-8 FT), six rebounds and three blocks. His size, strength, and athleticism was a problem for the Cowboys in his 21 minutes of play. Tucker is a prospect to watch over the next few seasons as he has a soft shooting touch for his size.
KEY GAME STATS
Field Goal Shooting: Wyoming 48.3% (28-58) – OSU 35.7% (20-56)
Points in Paint: Wyoming 40 – OSU 22
2nd Chance Points: Wyoming 17 – OSU 9
3-Point Shooting: Wyoming 40% (8-20) – OSU 36.8% (7-19)
Oregon State (2-2) hosts Portland (3-1) next on December 10th while Wyoming (3-1) hosts the University of Denver (1-1) on December 9th.
This article was written by Lorenzo Leaks, a scout and correspondent for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.
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