'Mature' Beavers hit the road.

Byline: Bob Rodman The Register-Guard

OSU MEN'S BASKETBALL

Oregon State's one Pac-10 Conference men's basketball victory was secured on the road.

And that is where the Beavers (1-6 Pac-10, 9-11 overall) are again, diving into Washington State's arena in Pullman, Wash., at 7 o'clock tonight for the first of four consecutive league games away from OSU's Gill Coliseum.

"Our demeanor on the road, our approach," Beavers coach Jay John said, "has been more mature than any team I've had here since the first one. There just hasn't been any issues with battling and competing."

But the Beavers are struggling for Pac-10 wins, losing five at home and winning only once - at Arizona State nearly two weeks ago.

No. 20 Washington State, 16-3 overall, has won five of its past six games, is tied for third in the Pac-10 with USC at 5-2 and is unbeaten at Friel Court (8-0). The Cougars have surfaced as the surprise team of the conference after being voted in the Pac-10 media preseason poll to finish last.

But the Beavers, winless in five tries against ranked teams this season, have dominated WSU in recent years, winning three consecutive games and 12 of the past 15 and owning a 161-111 series advantage. It's the sixth-most victories by one team over another in NCAA Division I history.

"This Washington State group couldn't close out games in the past couple of years, but now they are doing it," John said. "Now they are older and more experienced and better."

The Beavers have played 11 of their past 13 games at home but have lost six of the past seven, including three-point losses to Oregon and California. Much of OSU's trouble can be attributed to some telling statistics.

In the Pac-10, Oregon State ranks last in free-throw percentage (62.8 percent), field-goal percentage defense (45.7 percent), three-point field goal percentage defense (37.0 percent) and rebounding margin (minus-2.6).

The Beavers also are ninth in scoring offense (66.1) and field-goal percentage (42.7 percent), and eighth in scoring defense (68.1).

Marcel Jones, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, leads OSU in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (6.1).

Two of Oregon State's injured players, 6-10 junior forward Sasa Cuic (elbow) and 6-3 junior guard Wesley Washington (wrist), are expected to play, John said, but their time may be limited.

Roeland Schaftenaar, a 6-11 freshman, and Jack McGillis, a 6-6 sophomore, might start against WSU.

The Cougars, coming off a 28-point victory over Washington, are led by a conference-best defense that is allowing opponents an average of 58.1 points.

Washington State, which has outscored its opponents 146-80 in the first four minutes of the second half this season, also has the Pac-10's best turnover margin - plus-4.95.

Derrick Low, a 6-2 junior guard, leads WSU in scoring at 14.6 points per game. Kyle Weaver, a 6-6 junior guard, is the team's top rebounder at 5.8, leads in assists with 4.84 per game and is averaging 11.3 points.

"If you'd said at the beginning of the season that we'd be 16-3 and 5-2, I'd have taken it," said Tony Bennett, the first-year Washington State coach.

Oregon State, John said, is now "on the road. We're not changing anything we do or the way we play. We just need to play well for 40 minutes, not 33 or 34."

The Beavers play at Washington in Seattle on Saturday, a game scheduled for an FSN national telecast at 1 p.m.

OREGON STATE MEN

AT WASHINGTON ST.

Oregon State (9-11, 1-6)

Starters

Marcel Jones, 6-8 Jr.

(16.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg)

Roeland Schaftenaar, 6-11 Fr. (2.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

Kyle Jeffers, 6-9 Sr.

(6.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

Jack McGillis, 6-6 So.

(5.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg)

Josh Tarver, 6-3 Rfr.

(9.2 ppg, 3.75 apg)

Washington State

(16-3, 5-2) Starters

Daven Harmeling, 6-7 So. (9.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Ivory Clark, 6-6 Sr.

(9.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

Robbie Cowgill, 6-10 Jr.

(7.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Derrick Low, 6-2 Jr.

(14.6 ppg, 2.4 apg)

Kyle Weaver, 6-6 Jr.

(11.3 ppg, 4.8 apg)

Time: 7 p.m. PST.

Radio/TV: KKNX-AM (840), KNND-AM (1400), KCST-AM (1250)/No television.