Dec. 2, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE GAME: Oregon State (3-3) travels to Boulder, Colo., to play the Colorado Buffaloes (3-3) as part of the Pac-10/Big 12 Hardwood Series on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. PT (8 p.m. MT) at the Coors Event Center.

RADIO: The game will air live on the Beaver Sports Network and Beaver Nation Online (www.osubeavers.com) with Jon Warren calling the action. The broadcast can also be heard on XM Radio on Channel 193.

TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Dave Fleming and Sean Farnham calling the action.

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 Colorado meet for the eighth time in history with the Buffs holding a 5-2 advantage in the series. The Beavers have won two straight, including a 74-69 victory last season at Gill Coliseum.

SCOUTING COLORADO: Colorado enters the game with a 3-3 record with wins over Idaho State, Alcorn State and Texas-Pan American and losses to Georgia, San Francisco and Harvard. Dating back to last season, the Buffs have won six straight home games. First-year head coach Tad Boyle possesses one of the best guard combos in the nation in senior Cory Higgins (18.5 ppg) and sophomore Alec Burks (20.7 ppg). The tandem are averaging a combined 39 points per game this season after combining for 36 a game last year, which was the third-best returning scoring combination in the nation. Boyle came to Colorado after four years as the head coach at Northern Colorado where he led the Bears to a 25-8 record in his final season. The Buffs have committed single-digit turnovers in three of their six games this season.

OFFENSE IS SCORING: Oregon State is averaging 74.3 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 six 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 six games this season and have forced 20 or more turnovers in four of their six games. Oregon State has 15 or more steals in four of their six games and is first in the Pac-10 in steals per game (14.3) and turnover margin (+8.0). Five Oregon State players are ranked in the top ten in the Pac-10 in steals.

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. Five players scored in double figures in the loss to Utah Valley.

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 CONSISTENT: Senior forward Omari Johnson has led the Beavers in scoring in three of the six games and rebounding in four of the six games. He has two double-doubles this season after posting only one in his first three years. He ranks 10th in the Pac-10 in scoring (14.7), fifth in rebounding (7.7) and second in steals (2.8). He's the only Pac-10 player ranked in the top ten in all three categories.

CUNNINGHAM STEALING: Sophomore guard Jared Cunningham had seven steals against Charlotte and ranks first in the Pac-10 with 3.5 per game. It was just one steal off 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. Cunningham has three or more steals in five of the six games this season.

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 ... Sophomore forward Angus Brandt has missed two of the past three games due to a left foot sprain ... Senior Calvin Haynes is tied for 27th on Oregon State's all-time scoring list with 1,042 points ... Haynes scored a career-high 27 points against Charlotte and tied a career-high with four steals against Utah Valley ... Senior Lathen Wallace had a career-high five steals at Howard ... Freshman guard Ahmad Starks played a career-high 33 minutes against Howard and had a career-high four assists against Utah Valley ... Wallace and Starks have each made a three-pointer in all six games this season ... Sophomore forward Joe Burton tied career-highs with 15 points and three steals at Howard ... Freshman forward Devon Collier has started three consecutive games ... Freshman forward Eric Moreland scored his first career points against Howard and had four rebounds and two blocks against Utah Valley ... Junior walk-on Kevin McShane has played in all six 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 returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 12 against Texas-Pan American at 1:30 p.m. at legendary Gill Coliseum 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, in the third meeting between the two schools. Oregon State won last year, 64-57, at George Washington.

Oregon State concludes its non-conference schedule against Illinois-Chicago on Wednesday, Dec. 22, at Gill Coliseum in the second game between the two schools.

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