Feb. 26, 2005

Box Score |  Quotes

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - Nick DeWitz scored 17 of his career-high 28 points in the first half, David Lucas added 20 and Oregon State beat California 82-63 on Saturday, clinching its first winning season in 15 years.

The win avenged a 35-point loss at Cal earlier this season and bolstered the Beavers' chances at a first postseason appearance since 1990.

Sasa Cuic scored 10 points for Oregon State, which went 12-1 this season at Gill Coliseum.

Rod Benson scored 18 points and Richard Midgley had all of his 11 in the first half for the Golden Bears (12-14, 5-11 Pacific-10).

The Beavers, who currently sit in fifth place in the league, assured themselves of no worse than an eighth-place finish in the Pac-10 and a berth in the conference tournament.

As good as the Beavers (16-11, 8-8) have been at home, they have been dreadful on the road, and are still searching for a Pac-10 away victory. The team closes out the regular season next weekend at UCLA and Southern Cal.

DeWitz hit five 3-pointers in the first half and the Beavers, who trailed 17-16, used a 15-2 run for the lead. The Bears whittled the deficit down to eight, but Lamar Hurd converted a steal into a fastbreak dunk and the Beavers led 40-27 at halftime.

Oregon State scored eight points to the start of the second half. The lead was 25 points midway through the half and eventually got up to 30.

The Bears beat Oregon State 91-66 in Berkeley, Calif., on Jan. 29, but Cal has lost six of its last seven games, including five by at least 15 points.

Oregon State's 14-straight losing seasons was the sixth-longest in Division I. The Beavers last had a winning season in 1990, with Gary Payton at point guard.

DeWitz, a junior transfer from Iowa, finished 10-of-15 from the field and 7-of-9 on 3-pointers. He also had five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal.