Oregon St. @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 15, 2018 ) Texas A&M 67, Oregon St. 64

Oregon State is off to its best start in 35 years and tries for its eighth straight victory when it visits Texas A&M on Saturday. The Beavers defeated Texas-San Antonio 88-78 on Wednesday to match its longest winning streak since the 1992-93 season as 7-0 senior forward Kylor Kelley and junior guard Ethan Thompson scored 23 points apiece.

Oregon State survived a rare off-night from senior forward Tres Tinkle, who recorded season lows of 11 points and 17 minutes while battling foul trouble. “We’ve always talked about the strength of this team is our depth,” Beavers coach Wayne Tinkle told reporters “No one person carries us. ... It’s nice that there’s always other guys there when some guys aren’t on their best.” The Aggies snapped a four-game losing streak with a 63-60 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sunday behind 20 points from freshman forward Emanuel Miller, who scored a total of 24 in his first eight games. "We needed it pretty bad,'' Texas A&M junior guard Jay Jay Chandler told reporters. "It's been a while since we won one. ... Every game matters now, so we just got to go out there and try to keep collecting more in that win column."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT OREGON STATE (9-1): Tres Tinkle leads the Beavers in scoring (20.8 points), rebounding (7.6), assists (4.4), steals (1.8) and 3-point shooting (24-for-48). Kelley (11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds), whose 23 points Wednesday were a career high, leads the nation with 4.6 blocks per game. Thompson matched his career-high scoring total Wednesday and has averaged 20.7 points over his last three games, raising his season number to 16.1.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (4-5): Senior forward Josh Nebo averages team highs of 11.1 points and 6.3 rebounds after recording 13 points and 13 boards Sunday, and he shoots better from the floor (64.6 percent) than the free throw line (64.3). Junior guard Savion Flagg (10.3 points) scored 10 with a career-high eight rebounds and four assists against Corpus Christi. Chandler (7.9 points) scored 11 on Sunday, reaching double figures for the first time in five games.

TIP-INS

1. Oregon State is 10-20 versus current members of the SEC and 1-8 in true road games.

2. The Aggies lead the SEC and were seventh nationally entering Friday in fewest fouls per game with 13.8.

3. Texas A&M defeated the Beavers 67-64 last season in Portland, Ore., despite 20 points by Thompson.

PREDICTION: Oregon State 72, Texas A&M 65