TEMPE, Ariz. — Obinna Oleka’s 17 points led five Arizona State players in double figures as the Sun Devils cruised to a win over Oregon State 86-68 Thursday night.
Six of Gerry Blakes’ 16 points came on a pair of 3-pointers at the shot clock buzzer, one in each half. Willie Atwood added 13 points as the Sun Devils (12-9 overall, 2-6 in Pac-12) won for just the second time in eight games.
The Sun Devils led by as many as 27 points and only trailed once, 2-0, in the game. Guard Tra Holder finished with 8 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
Oregon State (12-7, 3-5), has lost four of its last five games. Gary Payton II, the Beavers’ do-everything guard who came in as the only player in the top 10 of the Pac-12 in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals, was held to 2 points and didn’t score until midway through the second half.
Stephen Thompson Jr. led the Beavers with 14 points.
The Beavers didn’t score for more than 5 minutes of the first half, committing four turnovers during that stretch. The Sun Devils used that time to go on a 12-0 run and go up 20-5 with 11:49 left, at which time Langston Morris-Walker ended the OSU drought with a free throw.
Oleka’s 3-pointer with 6 minutes left made it 30-9 for the Sun Devils as the Beavers’ woes continued. Oregon State finally got to double figures at the 5:09 mark, on a 3 from Malcolm Duvivier.
Arizona State led 36-17 at halftime, the fewest points it has allowed in a first half this season. The Beavers’ 17 points was a season low for a half with Payton held scoreless on only three shots. OSU made only 5 of 26 shots in the first 20 minutes.
TIP-INS
OREGON STATE: Though he came up well short Thursday, Payton has as many 20-point games this season, six, as he had all of last season. … The Beavers made just 9 of 20 free throws for the game. … Five Beavers are from outside of the U.S., including two players from Senegal and one each from Montenegro, the Netherlands and Canada.
ARIZONA STATE: The Sun Devils entered the game averaging 75.8 points per game, their highest mark since the 2004-2005 team averaged 76. … the 18-point win was the Sun Devils’ second-highest victory margin of the season. A 19-point win over Houston Baptist in December is the largest. … ASU has won eight straight over OSU at home, a streak that started in 2008.
A GOLDEN DISTRACTION
U.S. Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps appeared from behind the ASU student section’s infamous “Curtain of Distraction,” gold medals around his neck and swim cap on his head, with 13:47 left to play. With Phelps, who is working as an assistant swim coach at ASU this year, flashing nothing but a swimsuit and six-pack abs between two shirtless students, Oregon State’s Thompson Jr. missed both foul shots. The moment drew the loudest cheers from the crowd at Wells Fargo Arena.
(NOT) PAYTON’S PLACE
The student section chanted “Who’s Your Daddy?” at Payton, the son of the former NBA star. The chant was heard in the first half with Payton at the foul line, and he missed both free throws.
UP NEXT
Oregon State at No. 18 Arizona on Saturday.
Arizona State hosts No. 23 Oregon on Sunday.
