Well, that’s one way to win a game.

Oregon State rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat North Texas 66-64 Wednesday night at Gill Coliseum, completing the comeback on an administrative technical foul.

The Mean Green (3-1) were hit with a T after trying to call a timeout they didn’t have with 1.4 seconds left. With the score tied at 64-64, Josiah Lake II hit a pair of free throws to provide the game-winning points.

The Beavers (3-0) finished the game on a 9-0 run. It was OSU’s third straight victory by three points or less to begin the 2025-26 season.

Lake finished with 10 points for the Beavers, eight of which came at the free throw line. Johan Munch also scored 10 points, while the French duo of Isaiah Sy and Keziah Ekissi finished with nine points each.

The comeback started with five minutes left and the Beavers trailing 61-51. OSU pulled to within four points, but found itself trailing 64-57 after North Texas’ Will McClendon scored on a three-point play with three minutes remaining.

It was the last time UNT scored. Munch nabbed a steal and finished off an and-one dunk to make it four-point game. Ekissi soon followed with a fading shot off the glass, cutting the Mean Green lead to 64-62 with 51.8 seconds left.

OSU came up short on its next two possessions, but Lake wouldn’t be denied the third time. After he was fouled with 3.4 seconds left, Lake tied the game with a pair of free throws.

That set the stage for the technical foul and Lake’s game-winning free throws.

The game didn’t start out promising for Wayne Tinkle’s side. The Beavers gave up four offensive rebounds and committed three turnovers in the early going — much to the chagrin of Tinkle — and trailed 16-10.

The lack of hustle and attention to detail was not universal, however. Lake boxed out his man all the way into the OSU bench. While the effort was applauded, he did take a couple teammates out in the process.

An ugly first half included multiple lengthy, scoreless stretches from both teams. North Texas led, 24-17, after breaking a cold spell, and got it up to 29-17 with 2:05 left in the half.

At that point, a visibly furious Tinkle called timeout and laid into his players in the huddle.

OSU went on a 4-0 spurt at the free throw line to enter the half down just eight, 29-21, but the Beavers shot just 26% in the first half including eight straight misses to finish.

OSU came out in the second half with improved energy, and a three-pointer by Dez White cut the North Texas lead to 35-30.

But the Mean Green responded with three straight makes, taking a 45-32 lead thanks to hot outside shooting from Je’Shawn Stevenson. It didn’t prove to be enough for UNT, as the resilient Beavers dug down and won their third consecutive nail biter of the young 2025-26 season.

Next game: Oregon State (3-0) at Oregon (3-0)

When: Monday, Nov. 17Time: 7:00 pm PTWhere: Matthew Knight ArenaTV: FS1

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