CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — Oregon State used a dominant second half to overcome a halftime deficit and defeat Pepperdine 83-73 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers, now 15-14, trailed 42-36 at halftime but outscored the Waves 47-31 after intermission before a crowd of 3,146. Pepperdine, which fell to 8-21, was led by Aaron Clark’s game-high 32 points. Oregon State’s offense was fueled by Josiah Lake’s 18 points and eight assists and a 17-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. The Beavers shot 44.9% from the field and made 11 3-pointers to secure the comeback victory.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half surge fueled by relentless offensive rebounding and efficient scoring propelled Oregon State to an 83-73 victory over Pepperdine in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Gill Coliseum. Despite a game-high 32 points from Pepperdine’s Aaron Clark, the Beavers overcame a six-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Waves 47-31 after intermission. The turnaround was anchored by a staggering 17-4 advantage in offensive rebounds, which led to 19 second-chance points and allowed Oregon State to overcome a slightly higher turnover count. The most critical phase of the game began early in the second half. Pepperdine, which led 42-36 at halftime thanks to 16 first-half points from Clark and a hot-shooting start, saw its offense stagnate. Meanwhile, Oregon State methodically worked its way back, tying the game at 44 on an Olavi Suutela tip-in with 18:17 remaining. The Beavers then unleashed a decisive 17-4 run over the next six minutes, transforming a tight contest into a double-digit lead they would not relinquish. That run exemplified Oregon State’s winning formula. It featured inside scores from Suutela and Johan Munch, a three-pointer from Keziah Ekissi, and was consistently fueled by extra possessions. The Beavers grabbed five offensive rebounds during that stretch alone, demoralizing the Pepperdine defense and creating higher-percentage shots. Oregon State’s offensive balance proved overwhelming. Josiah Lake orchestrated the attack with 18 points and eight assists. Ekissi provided a crucial spark off the bench with 15 points, including three second-half three-pointers that stretched the defense. Munch added 10 points and five assists, while the frontcourt duo of Suutela (11 points) and Jorge Diaz Graham (13 points) combined for 24 points and constant activity on the glass. Clark, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from Easton, Pennsylvania, was brilliant in defeat for Pepperdine, hitting five three-pointers and playing 37 minutes. David Mager added 16 points off the bench, and Styles Phipps scored 11. But the Waves, who entered the game with the nation’s 315th-ranked adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom, had no answer for Oregon State’s interior size and persistence. Pepperdine managed only four offensive rebounds all game and shot just 42.9% from the field, while Oregon State connected on 44.9% of its attempts and a solid 37.9% from beyond the arc. The loss drops Pepperdine to 8-21 overall, while Oregon State improves to 15-14. The game was part of a late-season nonconference scheduling agreement for both teams. The contest drew 3,146 fans to Gill Coliseum. Pepperdine returns to West Coast Conference play Wednesday at home against Seattle. Oregon State resumes its WCC schedule the same day, hosting San Diego.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — The Oregon State Beavers, seeking to return to the .500 mark, will host the struggling Pepperdine Waves in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup on Saturday at Gill Coliseum. Oregon State (14-14) enters the contest looking to rebound from a low-scoring 60-50 road loss at Seattle on Feb. 15. The Beavers have been inconsistent in February, sandwiching a 90-63 rout of San Francisco between double-digit losses to Seattle and Gonzaga. A key player for the Beavers will be forward Jorge Diaz Graham. He provided a bright spot in the recent defeat, scoring 12 points and blocking two shots. He also tallied 18 points in the win over San Francisco on Feb. 12. Pepperdine (8-20) arrives with some momentum after snapping a four-game skid with a 95-87 victory at Portland on Wednesday. The Waves’ offense erupted behind a trio of scorers: Aaron Clark poured in 29 points, Javon Cooley added 21 and guard Styles Phipps orchestrated the attack with 19 points and 12 assists. Phipps has been the focal point for Pepperdine all season. Over his last seven games, the guard is averaging nearly 16 points and 6 assists per contest, including a 25-point effort at Washington State and a 21-point, 9-assist performance against San Diego in January. The Waves’ defense, however, remains a concern. Pepperdine has allowed 90 or more points in four of its last seven games, a trend it must reverse against an Oregon State team averaging 74 points per game at home this season. Historically, the Beavers have defended their home court well, posting a 10-4 record in Corvallis. Pepperdine is just 2-11 in true road games. Following this game, Oregon State will continue a brief homestand against San Diego on Wednesday. Pepperdine returns to Malibu to host Seattle on Feb. 25. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.