The Barometer Online

Issue date: 1/20/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ethan Erickson Sophomore guard Calvin Haynes scored 19 points in Thursday's 61-57 overtime loss to Washington State.

It was another frustrating weekend for the Oregon State men's basketball team as the Beavers failed to defend their home floor, and watched their losing streak stretch to four games courtesy of the Washington State Cougars and the Washington Huskies.

However, the weekend was not without some positives. Oregon State harassed the Cougars all night forcing 15 turnovers and outscoring the Washington State bench 25-15. The Beavers performance was outstanding enough to take a very good Cougar basketball team into overtime, only to result in a four-point loss that just barely got away from Oregon State.

"Normally we lose and I can think of at least 15 things we need to work on," Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson said. "That's a tough Washington State team and to see my guys stand up to them toe to toe like a heavyweight boxing match, it made me proud."

The toughness was undoubtedly there for the Beavers on Thursday night as Robinson's team has already forged a new image for Oregon State basketball. Players diving into the front row, the suffocating defense that made Cougar star Taylor Rochestie cringe every time he touched the ball and the outstanding hustle - play in and play out - may not show up in the box score, but it was worthy of a standing ovation from the Beaver faithful following the loss - something that Legendary Gill Coliseum hasn't seen for quite a long time.

"I was really happy with our toughness and our hardness of play," Robinson said. "I've watched this Washington State team play, and that's a tough group of kids. For us to be standing in the middle of the ring going blow for blow, I was really pleased with what I saw."

Something else Beaver fans appreciated was the brilliant play of two of the younger players on the team. Sophomore guards Calvin Haynes and Lathen Wallace both continued their high level of play scoring 19 and 13 points respectively. Wallace has put up double digits in scoring for the past four games and Haynes has been the most dangerous offensive threat for the Beavers all year long, averaging close to 15 points per game.

"We should've won that game, that was a game that should've been won in regulation." Haynes said. "But when you live by the three you die by the three, and it lead to this result."

Continued...

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