Oregon State erased a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes of regulation and completed the stunning comeback in overtime.
Down 59-49 with 1:45 to go, the Beavers closed regulation on an 11-1 run thanks to three three-pointers, including a pair from Josiah Lake II, who tied the game with 12 seconds to play.
Oregon State scored eight of the first 10 points in overtime and held on for an improbable 78-76 win over San Diego Saturday afternoon at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
“The last two minutes was crazy,” forward Johan Munch said on postgame radio. “I think it was a never die, never stop fighting mentality.”
Matija Samar scored six of his 11 points in overtime for Oregon State (12-12, 5-6 WCC), which completed a weekend sweep in Southern California.
Munch had 15 points and nine rebounds and Dez White added 12 points for the Beavers, who led 30-25 at the half.
Adrian McIntyre had 21 points, four rebounds and five assists for San Diego (10-14, 4-7), which gained control early in the second and opened a 42-35 lead with 12:13 to go.
The Beavers got within 46-45, then the Toreros responded with a 10-0 run, with seven from McIntyre, to regain command.
Or so it seemed.
White made a three with 1:28 to go, then after a stop, Lake hit one with 36 seconds remaining.
Ty-Laur Johnson made 1 of 2 free throws for USD, which was 1 of 7 from the field to end regulation. OSU fed the ball inside to Munch for a dunk to make it 60-57, then an offensive foul on Toneari Lane gave the ball back to the Beavers and Lake made another three to tie it.
“We got to 59-52 and I had a feeling, we’re coming back now,“ Munch said. “There were only 40 seconds left — it was not really in our favor to come back. The energy everybody brought, we could feel it.”
Munch added six in the extra period, as Oregon State went 10 of 16 at the free throw line to take and maintain the lead.