Bibbins scores 18, Utah hangs on 66-64 against Oregon State
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – Justin Bibbins scored 18 points with four 3-pointers and six assists as Utah held on late to beat Oregon State 66-64 on Sunday.
David Collette added 12 points for the Utes (10-3, 2-0 Pac-12), who took a game-saving final possession after an Oregon State turnover with 1.4 seconds on the clock.
Tres Tinkle had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists and Stephen Thompson Jr. added 13 points for the Beavers (9-5, 1-1).
The Beavers led by six in the second half when Utah went on a 16-2 run, capped by a Sedrick Barefield free throw with 3:37 left, to go ahead 63-55. The swarming Utes defense held the Beavers without a field goal for eight minutes.
Oregon State promptly responded with a 7-0 surge, capped by an Alfred Hollins dunk, to trail 63-62 with a minute remaining.
Bibbins was fouled in the lane on Utah’s next possession and sank both free throws. With 27.5 seconds left, Tinkle was fouled and made two free throws to make the score 65-64. Barefield was fouled, but made only one.
The Beavers had the ball with 20 seconds left, but Hollins and Tinkle missed 3-pointers and a put-back by Thompson bounced off the rim, resulting in a jump ball, with the possession arrow going to Oregon State with 1.4 seconds remaining.
The baseline official ruled that Ethan Thompson moved along the baseline and awarded possession to Utah. Hollins intercepted the Utah pass but his half court heave was off the mark.
Utah shot 48 percent for the game – and on 3-pointers, going 11-for-23. Oregon State shot 42 percent.
The Utes led 38-32 at the half.
Oregon State went on a 11-3 surge to open the second half, propelled by two Thompson 3-pointers, to take a 43-41 lead.
BIG PICTURE
Utah: The Utes first six shots of the game were 3-pointers, and they made four of them. The first two-point field goal attempt for Utah came near the 14:30 mark. . The Utes came into the game averaging 8.9 3-pointers made per game. At halftime on Sunday , the team had made 10.
Oregon State: Thompson’s last-second heroics helped the Beavers to wins against the Utes in 2015 and 2016. The 2016 win was Oregon State’s lone Pac-12 victory.
NEXT UP
Utah hosts Arizona on Thursday.
Oregon State hosts Oregon on Friday.
