Nov. 29, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

Online Coverage: Gametracker | Live Video

THE GAME: Oregon State (3-2) returns home to face Utah Valley (2-3) from the Great West Conference at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at legendary Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore.

RADIO: The game will air live on the Beaver Sports Network and Beaver Nation Online (www.osubeavers.com) with Mike Parker calling the action.

TELEVISION: The game will not be televised.

ONLINE: Live updates will be available by visiting www.osubeavers.com and clicking on Gametracker. The game will also be available via a live audio and video stream on Beaver Nation Online for a fee.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Live updates will be available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/oregonstatembb and Twitter at http://twitter.com/oregonstatembb.

THE SERIES: Oregon State and Utah Valley meet for the first time in history.

SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY: Utah Valley comes to Corvallis on a two-game winning streak with blowout wins over La Sierra, 93-46, and Northern New Mexico, 87-37, after opening the season with losses to Maine, Florida International and Georgia State. The Wolverines finished 12-18 last season and 5-7 in the Great West Conference. Head coach Dick Hunsaker is in his ninth year at Utah Valley after stops at Utah, Ball State, Manchester College and Weber State. Arguably, the biggest win of his career came in 1990 when he was the head coach at Ball State and upset Oregon State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This year's team is led by juniors Isiah Williams (11.6 points) and Geddes Robinson (11.4 points, 7.8 rebounds) and senior Jordan Swarbrick (10.8 points, 3.0 assists).

OFFENSE IS SCORING: Oregon State is averaging 75.6 points per game this season after averaging 60.3 points per game last season. The Beavers have scored 80 or more points in three of their five games after scoring 80 or more in only one of their 32 games last season. They have also scored more first-half points (44 vs. Charlotte) and second-half points (52 at Howard) than they did in any game last season.

DEFENSE IS FORCING TURNOVERS: The Beavers have committed fewer turnovers than their opponent in all five games this season and have forced 20 or more turnovers in three of their five games. Oregon State has 15 or more steals in three of their five games, to rank first in the Pac-10 in that category with 14.2 per game, and have a turnover margin of +7.8 to rank second in the Pac-10.

SPREADING THE SCORING AROUND: Four players have scored in double-figures in four games this season and the Beavers are 3-1 in those contests. Oregon State had four players score in double-figures in four of its 32 games last season. The Beavers were 3-1 in those games as well.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Oregon State plays more non-conference road games than any team in the Pac-10 this season with four (at Seattle, at Howard, at Colorado, at Montana). Arizona State and USC play three non-conference road games, while Arizona, Stanford and Washington State play two. California, Oregon, UCLA and Washington all play one.

OMARI IS ROLLING: Senior forward Omari Johnson has led the Beavers in scoring in three of the first five games and rebounding in four of the first five games. He has two double-doubles this season after posting only one in his first three years. He ranks ninth in the Pac-10 in scoring (15.2), fourth in rebounding (8.4) and second in steals (2.8).

CUNNINGHAM STEALING: Sophomore guard Jared Cunningham had seven steals against Charlotte and ranks first in the Pac-10 with 3.8 per game. It was just one steal of a career-high and school-record eight steals that he had last season against Washington State. Brent Barry and Seth Tarver are tied with Cunningham for the school-record with eight steals.

LEAN, MEAN, FIGHTING MACHINE: Sophomore Joe Burton, who called himself a lean, mean, fighting machine after the exhibition win over Western Oregon tied a career-high with 15 points at Howard and added career-highs in field goals made (7), field goals attempted (13) and steals (3) against the Bison.

FAST BREAK: Redshirt freshman Roberto Nelson will be eligible to play on Dec. 10 and should see his first action for the Beavers on Dec. 12 against Texas-Pan American ... Senior Calvin Haynes now ranks 31st on Oregon State's all-time scoring list with 1,027 points ... Haynes scored a career-high 27 points against Charlotte ... Senior Lathen Wallace had a career-high five steals at Howard ... Sophomore guard Jared Cunningham had a career-high five assists against Charlotte and played a career-high 35 minutes at Seattle ... Freshman guard Ahmad Starks played a career-high 33 minutes against Howard and made three three-pointers for the first time in his career in a game ... Freshman forward Devon Collier has started two consecutive games ... Freshman forward Eric Moreland scored his first career points for Oregon State on a layup in the second half against Howard ... Junior walk-on Kevin McShane has played in all five games for the Beavers ... Thirteen of the 15 players on the roster have seen playing time for the Beavers this season.

A LOOK AHEAD: Oregon State travels to Boulder on Dec. 4 to play Colorado at 6 p.m. PT (7 p.m. MT) in the Pac-10/Big 12 Hardwood Series. The Buffs hold a 5-2 advantage in the series. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

Oregon State then has eight days off before returning home on Sunday, Dec. 12 to play Texas-Pan American at 1:30 p.m. in the second-ever meeting between the two schools.

The Beavers will travel to Missoula, Mont., to play the Montana Grizzlies on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. PT (7 p.m. MT). Oregon State holds a 14-3 advantage in the series with the most recent game played in 1972.

The Beavers host George Washington on Saturday, Dec. 18, and Illinois-Chicago on Wednesday, Dec. 22, to conclude its non-conference schedule.

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