A 9-2 Oregon State run early in the second half broke open a tight game Monday, and the Beavers went on to a 74-60 win over Portland. The Beavers (11-14), led just 30-25 at halftime, but outscored Portland 44-35 in the second half to put Portland down.

Brandon Payton had a career-high 21 points for the Beavers, while Adam Masten added 15 off the bench. Coky Rochin led Portland with 15 points, and Eric Knight and Casey Frandsen each scored 12 points.

The Beavers made six of their first eight shots from the field in the second half, while Portland scored only five points in the first eight minutes.

Oregon State pushed its lead to 58-42 with eight minutes left in the game, but consecutive 3-pointers from Eric Knight brought Portland within 60-50 inside the final five minutes. Portland battled within 67-58 after a pair of

Frandsen free throws inside the final two minutes, but the Beavers scored seven points off five free throws and a layup. Ghislain Sema’s rebound basket at the buzzer was Portland’s only points in the final two minutes.

Playing their third game in five days, the sluggish Pilots made only 39.2% of their field goal attempts in the game, 7-of-25 from the 3-point line.