CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle said his team is finding ways to win, despite only playing strong basketball a half of each game.
But that won't hold up once Pac-12 play starts.
''We know that the price of poker is going up. There's no weak sister in conference. . We need to play 40 minutes of basketball,'' Tinkle said.
Tres Tinkle, the coach's son, scored a career-high 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had three steals, and Oregon State defeated Quinnipiac 82-61 on Monday night.
Gary Payton II scored 19 points with seven rebounds and three steals, while Drew Eubanks added 10 points for the Beavers (9-2).
Oregon State broke the game open with a 15-0 surge to start the second half, holding Quinnipiac scoreless for nearly six minutes.
''We got challenged at halftime just to show some toughness and move the ball and play as a team,'' Tres Tinkle said.
Donovan Smith had 16 points with 12 rebounds, and Andrew Robinson came off the bench to score 10 points for the Bobcats (4-6).
Oregon State was outrebounded 46-43, but held Quinnipiac to 31.9 percent shooting.
''I thought they were terrific in the second half, their defensive intensity,'' Bobcats coach Tom Moore said of his opponent.
The Beavers strong opening to the second half put them ahead and led 52-34 with 15:16 left. Quinnipiac never came closer than 10 points the rest of the game and Oregon State pushed the margin to as many as 23.
The Beavers led 19-12 at the 13:38 mark after Payton made a lay-in and was fouled, then tipped his own missed free throw to Tinkle, who put in a lay-up. The baskets were part of a 6-0 run.
With 4:10 remaining in the first half, Quinnipiac took a 27-26 lead, thanks to a 7-1 run capped by Ayron Hutton's jumper.
Oregon State went to the break ahead 37-34 after Langston Morris-Walker made a lay-in, was fouled and sunk the free throw with 2.3 seconds left in the half.
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TIP INS
Quinnipiac: The Bobcats came into the game ranked second in the nation in offensive rebounds per game at 17.4 and finished with 18. Quinnipiac has led the nation in at least one rebounding category in each of the last five years. . Since the start of the 2012-13 season, Quinnipiac has been outrebounded only three times.
Oregon State: The Beavers equaled their best start to the season since the 1984-85 squad opened 10-1. Three other Oregon State teams since have started 9-2. . Oregon State eclipsed 70 points only seven times last season. This year's team now has surpassed the mark eight times. . The game was Oregon State's third in four days after hosting the Far West Classic in Portland on Friday and Saturday.
TIRED LEGS: The game was Oregon State's third in four days after hosting the Far West Classic in Portland on Friday and Saturday, and some players were feeling beat down, Wayne Tinkle said. ''Unfortunately, we had some guys let that get to them. That's okay. That's what's good about depth. We found a group of guys who could battle and play the way we're supposed to,'' he added.
CRASHING THE BOARDS: Quinnipiac's aggressiveness in crashing the glass led to 18 offensive rebounds, but it also resulted in fast break opportunities for Oregon State. ''The way we rebound, us sending four guys to the boards every time, if we don't shoot a high percentage, they're getting out and they're running,'' Moore said.
UP NEXT
Quinnipiac plays at Maine on Dec. 29.
Oregon State hosts Oregon on Jan. 3.
