NCAAB Game Recap - Oregon State at Saint Louis
Sun Dec 9, 2018 3:30 PM EST

Gonz
73
Tenn
76
F
VCU
49
UVA
57
F
GrCan
66
Nev
74
F
SCSt
44
VaTec
81
F
Colum
74
Iona
71
F
UNH
67
Niag
71
F
VMI
65
Chat
83
F
(N/A)
56
Clev
77
F
Ariz
73
Bama
76
F
Fairf
69
ODU
79
F
Longw
71
Duques
80
F
Princ
74
StJon
89
F
StFPA
83
Del
88
F
CoCar
71
Woff
82
F
(N/A)
69
Charl
87
F
InWor
50
LSU
91
F
(N/A)
57
Merrim
105
F
FlaAM
40
GaTec
73
F
Navy
81
Lipsco
107
F
(N/A)
60
TNTec
97
F
TNSt
64
Copp
55
F
Ball
77
Evans
89
F
OrSt
61
StLou
65
F
WIMil
72
UND
83
F
(N/A)
45
Alc
75
F
CSNor
68
USD
82
F
WSt
69
Denv
93
F
SNST
54
SCla
82
F
Samf
77
AlaAM
59
F
Purd
68
Tex
72
F
South
65
IaSt
101
F
MTSt
95
WaSt
90
F
Seatt
62
Wash
70
F
SoFL
UNCC
Canc

Dec 9, 2018, 3:30 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Oregon State

29

32

61

Saint Louis

33

32

65

Bess pours in a career high 24 as St. Louis tops Oregon St.
Sun Dec 9, 2018 7:13 PM

ST. LOUIS (AP) Javon Bess didn't even look at the numbers.

The Saint Louis University guard knew he was coming off one of the worst performances of his career in a five-point loss to Southern Illinois on Wednesday.

Three days later, Bess more than made up for it.

The 6-foot-6 inch guard poured in a career-high 24 points as Saint Louis narrowly defeated Oregon State 65-61 on Sunday.

Fred Thatch Jr. had 16 points for Saint Louis (7-2). Carte'Are Gordon added 11 points off the bench.

Ethan Thompson led Oregon State (6-2) with 22 points, one short of his career best. He also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Tres Tinkle had 15 points and 10 boards. Stephen Thompson Jr. added 10 points.

Bess hit on 9 of 16 shots from the field and made three key 3-pointers against the Beavers. He missed nine of 10 shots in the Billikens loss earlier in the week.

"I don't worry too much about numbers," said Bess, who has been nursing a sore ankle. "I got to practice and just tried to regroup."

"He continues to amazing me with what he does," Saint Louis coach Travis Ford said. "He totally changed the game."

Bess also led a strong defensive charge that limited Oregon State to 9-of-27 shooting in the second half.

"With me and (Bess) going at the same time, it's going to be tough for teams to score," Thatch said.

The Billikens closed the game on a 15-8 run over the final 5:46. Bess scored eight of those points including a 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 62-56.

Thatch, a freshman, also hit a big shot down the stretch. His fallaway 3-pointer at the 30-second buzzer gave the hosts some breathing room at 60-56.

Thatch was making his first start of the season, replacing Tramaine Isabell Jr. who is out with a leg injury.

"This is a process for me," Thatch said. "Playing a lot more helped. I could play through my mistakes and not be timid."

Oregon State rallied from a 12-point deficit early in the second half to take a 53-50 lead on a basket by Stephen Thompson with 6:21 remaining.

"The second half we challenged our guys to get together and do something," Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle said. "It came down to a couple loose balls that they got and we didn't."

BIG PICTURE

Oregon State: The Beavers are without center Gligorije Rakocevic, who is out with a stress fracture. He is expected to miss at least four more weeks. Oregon State was hoping to equal its best start since 1986-87 when it won seven of its first eight games. The Beavers bench managed just eight points and didn't get its first basket until Warren Washington scored 9:09 into the second half.

Saint Louis: The Billikens were picked to win the Atlantic 10 Conference title by a vote of coaches and media. They garnered 15 of 26 first-place votes and will open conference play Jan. 6 at home against Rhode Island.

Gordon did not start for the first time this season. He came in off the bench after 5:49.

SLOW START, BIG FINISH

Saint Louis missed its first seven shots and fell behind 6-0. It made 21 of its next 43 including a 10-for-22 effort in the second half.

UP NEXT

Oregon State: Will host Texas A&M on Saturday.

St. Louis: Will travel to unbeaten Houston on Sunday.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Oregon State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
E. Thompson 22 0 3 11 3 0
T. Tinkle 15 0 4 10 1 0
Saint Louis PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Bess 24 0 2 4 5 1
F. Thatch 16 0 2 5 1 1

Team Comparison

OrSt StLou
Points For 61 65
Field Goals 21/53-40% 21/50-42%
Three Pointers 6/22-27% 8/12-67%
Free Throws 13/17-76% 15/32-47%
Offensive Rebounds 12 13
Defensive Rebounds 25 23
Rebounds 39 42
Blocks 2 4
Steals 8 10
Turnovers 17 15
Personal Fouls 25 19
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - StLou Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Sun Dec 9 OrSt 61 @ StLou 65 E. Thompson 22 J. Bess 24

Game Information

Stadium: Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, Missouri
Attendance: 6,853
Game Time: