The Barometer Online

Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: John Castle Marcel Jones and the Beavers notched their second win of the Pac-10 season with a sweep of Arizona State last week.

Riding the momentum of their first win in the last eight games, the Oregon State men head back on the road to face the two teams that began their seven game losing streak, the Cal Golden Bears and the Stanford Cardinal.

"We have this new energy to practice our hardest, even though that's what we were doing before, preparing for ASU. It's easy when you have something to back it up with," said Sasa Cuic, who averaged 24 points per game in OSU's games against Arizona and Arizona State.

Stanford (15-8, 7-5) is coming off two tough road losses to Washington and Washington State, and is led by freshmen Brook and Robin Lopez, who together average almost 20 points per game. Forward Lawrence Hill led the Cardinal with 24 points and eight rebounds last time against the Beavers, a 67-56 victory at Gill Coliseum.

"They have two really big guys that can block shots, alter shots, so obviously they're a big influence for them," said OSU's Roeland Schaftenaar. "But we just have to play our own game and we'll be fine."

In the latter part of the road trip, the Beavers head to Berkeley to face Cal (12-12, 4-8). The Golden Bears are in the midst of a six game losing streak, including three losses to Top 25 ranked opponents in the Pac-10. Cal is led by guard Ayinde Ubaka and forward Ryan Anderson. Both scored 22 points against OSU last time, in a heartbreaking three-point Beaver loss.

After a controversial flagrant foul call on Bears forward Eric Vierneisel, Beaver guard Wesley Washington injured his wrist, which still has not healed, and may require postseason surgery.

"It was a hard foul. They called the flagrant, but to me it was just a hard foul, and unfortunately, Wes' hand, to break his fall, went straight into the basketball stands," said coach Jay John.

"But he's back playing better now than he has since the injury, so hopefully that can continue to happen as it feels better."

Washington scored 13 points in the win over Arizona State, just his second game back after sitting out the Washington road trip.

"We have two wins in Pac-10 play. These teams are fighting for a good position in the Pac-10 tournament, possibly a postseason berth," Cuic said. "And for me to say that we have an advantage in some positions, it wouldn't be right to those teams and what they've done so far. We're going to try to surprise [them] as the underdogs in every position."

With just five games left in the season, the Beavers look to make a push for eighth place in the Pac-10, just two games back of their Saturday opponent, Cal.

"We're not going to give up," Cuic said. "As long as there are games to play, we're coming hard."

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