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THE SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4

Colorado (5-2) at Oregon State (2-3), 8:06 PM

Radio: Beaver Sports Radio Network; Mike Parker (play-by-play)

Live Video: None

Live Audio: www.osubeavers.com

Live Stats: www.osubeavers.com

Television: FSN; Paul Sunderland (play-by-play); Don MacLean (color)

THE SERIES

Oregon State vs. Colorado: Colorado leads 5-1

Corvallis, Ore.: Series tied 1-1

Boulder, Colo.: Colorado leads 4-0

Neutral: Never Met

The Oregon State men’s basketball team returns to action this weekend as the Beavers host Colorado in the Pac-10/Big 12 Hardwood Series on Friday, Dec. 4, at 8:00 p.m. The game will be nationally-televised by FSN and tickets can be purchased by contacting the Oregon State ticket office at 1-800-GO-BEAVS.

Oregon State enters with a mark of 2-3 on the season after picking up a 64-57 win over George Washington on Saturday. President of the United States Barack Obama was in attendance for the contest as Seth Tarver led the way for the Beavers with 18 points.

Tarver continues to lead the Oregon State attack as the forward enters the week averaging 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The active steals leader in the Pac-10 Conference, Tarver leads the league with 2.8 steals per game.

Colorado enters with a mark of 5-2 on the season after a 78-54 victory over San Francisco on Tuesday night. The Buffaloes are led by guard Cory Higgins, who leads the team with 20.7 points per game.

The Buffaloes are currently shooting 51.5 percent from the floor while holding opponents to 43.3 percent from the field.

The meeting marks the seventh in the series between the two schools as Colorado holds a 5-1 record all-time against the Beavers. Oregon State won the last meeting; however, capturing a 98-87 win in Corvallis during the 2004-05 season.

SCOUTING COLORADO

Colorado, led by third-year head coach Jeff Bzdelik, enters the weekend with a mark of 5-2 on the season after earning a 78-54 win over San Francisco on Tuesday night.

Cory Higgins leads the Colorado attack as the junior guard leads the team with 20.7 points per game. Alec Burks is the only other Buffalo in double figures, registering 15.6 points per contest.

Colorado has been blistering from the field in the early going, hitting 51.5 percent from the field and 46.9 percent from behind the three-point arc. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes are holding opponents to 43.3 percent from the floor.

The meeting is the sixth between the schools as Colorado owns a 5-1 mark all-time against the Beavers; however, Oregon State is 1-1 in games against the Buffaloes in Gill Coliseum.

Seth Tarver PLAYING WELL TO START THE SEASON

Senior forward Seth Tarver has led the Oregon State attack to open the season, averaging 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds to lead the Beavers in both categories through five games. In the victory over George Washington, Tarver led the team with 18 points while recording three assists and three steals.

The senior also led the Oregon State attack at the “Duel in the Desert” tournament and was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds through the three games.

Tarver currently leads the Pac-10 with 2.8 steals per game and is among the active career leaders in several categories, ranking 10th in career points (723), fourth in rebounds (419) and first in steals (121).

OREGON STATE’S QUEST FOR SCHOOL VICTORY NUMBER 1600 UNDERWAY

After a victory at George Washington, Oregon State stands just four wins shy of a historic milestone as the Beavers have compiled a mark of 1,596-1,183 over the years. During that span, Oregon State has captured 21 conference titles, including five Pac-10 Conference crowns, and has made 16 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship appearances.

Oregon State, the 15th winningest program in men’s college basketball history, stand four wins shy of its 1,600th victory. Only 14 programs have reached the historic milestone as Western Kentucky was the last program to accomplish the feat, surpassing 1,600 wins last season.

In addition to the historic program total, head coach Craig Robinson has reached the 50-win plateau as the second-year head coach picked up his 50th career win at George Washington. Robinson owns a 50-49 career mark in three-plus seasons.

Seth Tarver AND THE 1-3-1 WREAK HAVOC ON OPPOSING OFFENSES

Oregon State’s 1-3-1 zone defense received a lot of attention last season and the guard at the top of the zone, Seth Tarver, is a big reason why. The senior currently leads the Pac-10 Conference at 2.8 steals per game. Tarver led the league last season with 2.0 steals per game in conference play, becoming the first Oregon State player since Gary Payton to lead the league in steals.

In addition to Tarver, the rest of the Oregon State defense has done its part as well, as the Beavers rank second in the conference at 8.4 steals per game. The defense has also done its part in keeping opponent’s three-point field goal percentage down, as opponents are only hitting 30.0 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.

OREGON STATE LOOKS TO CONTINUE EFFICIENCY FROM THE FIELD

After struggling from the field two years ago, indicators show the new offensive system in place allowed Oregon State to dramatically improve its shooting numbers as the Beavers finished last season ranked among the nation’s best. For the year, Oregon State shot 46.7 percent and ranked sixth in the Pac-10 and 46th in the NCAA. In fact, the 46.7 percent is the highest field goal percentage for Oregon State since the 1992 season.

Oregon State was especially efficient within the three-point arc as the Beavers hit 52.6 percent of their two-point shots to rank 31st in the country according to kenpom.com.

The Beavers shot 56.5 percent from the field against UTEP in game three of the College Basketball Invitational, marking the 14th time Oregon State shot 50 percent or better from the field. In fact, the Beavers shot 58 percent or better from the floor on five occasions last year. The season prior, Oregon State shot 50 percent or better on only two occasions.

UP NEXT...

Oregon State will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 6, when the Beavers host Cal State Bakersfield at 2:00 p.m.