Stephen Thompson Jr. sets Oregon State record for 3s in win

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – Stephen Thompson Jr. scored 25 points, with five 3-pointers, and set a program record with 187 career 3-pointers as Oregon State defeated Missouri State 101-77 on Saturday.

Ethan Thompson added 22 points, with five 3-pointers, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Tres Tinkle had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Beavers (6-1).

Jarred Dixon had 31 points with six 3-pointers, and Tulio Da Silva added 21 points and seven rebounds for the Bears (3-4).

Oregon State shot 61 percent from the field, was 16 for 28 from behind the arc, and outrebounded Missouri State 32-27. The Beavers set a school record for 3-pointers made in the game.

The Beavers used the long ball and rim defense to take an early lead.

Thompson’s record-breaking 3-pointer, on an assist from his brother, came with 8:20 left in the first half and put the Beavers up 36-22. At that point, Oregon State had made 8 of 11 from behind the arc.

While the Bears had potent long-range shooting early, they shot 2 for 10 on layups in the first half.

Oregon State went to the break ahead 50-35.

The Beavers went on a 9-0 surge to start the second half, and a Tinkle steal and breakaway dunk put Oregon State up 59-35 with 17 minutes remaining.

Oregon State’s previous 3-point record holder was Ahmad Starks, who had 185 from 2011 to 2013.

BIG PICTURE

Missouri State: Da Silva, a South Florida transfer, played just his third game with the Bears after being declared eligible by the NCAA on Nov. 21. He was coming off a 22-point game against Air Force.

Oregon State: Center Gligorije Rakocevic, aka “Big G,” is out for about a month with a stress fracture in his left foot, and Kylor Kelley, a junior college transfer, moved into the starting lineup. . Kelley came into Saturday averaging 3.2 blocks per game, good for fourth in the nation and tops in the Pac-12. He had four blocks on Saturday, along with two points and four rebounds. . Oregon State equaled its best start through seven games since the 1980-81 team opened 26-0.

UP NEXT

Missouri State hosts Western Kentucky on Wednesday.

Oregon State plays at Saint Louis on Dec. 9.