Wyoming @ Oregon St. preview

For a team that finished 5-27 a year ago, there is a surprising amount of positive buzz surrounding Oregon State this season. Much of the optimism can be traced to the return of forward Tres Tinkle, who looks to build on his strong season-opening performance when the Beavers face visiting Wyoming on Monday.

Tinkle missed 26 games last season with a broken wrist but stepped right back into a starring role in Friday’s 99-82 win over Southern Utah, finishing with a game-high 24 points and going 8-for-11 from the field with six rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. Freshman guard Ethan Thompson made an impressive debut with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and two steals, while junior forward Drew Eubanks added 16 points and seven rebounds. The Beavers were plagued by injuries last season, which is something Wyoming can relate to early on. The Cowboys had three key players miss Friday’s 74-65 season-opening win over Chattanooga with injuries, and it’s unclear whether any of them will be available Monday.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT WYOMING (1-0): Senior forward Hayden Dalton played all 40 minutes and made five 3-pointers in the win over Chattanooga, finishing with a career-high 30 points along with 13 rebounds. Dalton took on a greater scoring role after preseason all-Mountain West junior guard Justin James was limited to 13 minutes with a left ankle injury. Senior guard Alexander Aka Gorski (ankle), sophomore center Andrew Moemeka (concussion) and freshman Anthony Mack (concussion) are all battling injuries, but coach Allen Edwards was encouraged about his team’s depth after 10 players made solid contributions in the season opener.

ABOUT OREGON STATE (1-0): The Beavers’ strong backcourt includes junior guard Stephen Thompson Jr., who scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half of the win over Southern Utah and added six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sophomore point guard JaQuori McLaughlin recorded five assists, but the offense clearly runs through the versatile Tinkle, who has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games dating back to last season. The Beavers’ unproven bench features sophomore guard Kendal Manuel, who had seven points and six rebounds in 21 minutes in the opener.

TIP-INS

1. Oregon State is looking to open with a 2-0 record for the fourth consecutive season under coach Wayne Tinkle.

2. Wyoming has made at least 10 3-pointers in 15 of its last 16 games dating back to last season.

3. Oregon State expects to have junior C Gligorije Rakocevic available after the junior missed Friday’s contest with a broken nose.

PREDICTION: Oregon State 74, Wyoming 67