Oregon St. @ Washington St. preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 24, 2019 ) Washington St. 77, Oregon St. 90

Oregon State can clinch at least the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the Pac-12 tournament with a victory at Washington State on Saturday. The Beavers have lost three straight by a combined eight points after Wednesday's 81-76 overtime loss at conference regular-season champion Washington but Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle isn't concerned with the late skid, telling reporters: “These guys are tough enough to grab themselves and turn it around."

The Beavers are tied for fourth with Colorado, Oregon and UCLA but own every tiebreaker provided they defeat the Cougars for the fourth straight time after claiming the previous three by a total of 70 points. “... We’re still sitting in a good spot,'' Tinkle said. "When the Pac-12 tournament comes around, it’s a new season. If we get a win Saturday, we’ll get some momentum back.” Washington State has lost four in a row after Tuesday's 72-61 setback to Oregon and is locked into the 11th seed. Cougars guard CJ Elleby on Tuesday set the school record for points in a season by a freshman with 456, topping the old standard of 454 set by Steve Puidokas in 1973-74.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, Pac-12

ABOUT OREGON STATE (17-12, 9-8 Pac-12): Junior forward Tres Tinkle (team highs of 20.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game) scored 31 against Washington - one off his career high - and is averaging 26.3 points while making 8-of-17 from 3-point range in his last three games. Senior guard Stephen Thompson Jr. (15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists) needs 15 points to pass Roberto Nelson (1,745) and move into fourth place on the school's all-time list. Junior forward Kylor Kelley (7.6 points, 5.1 rebounds), who leads the nation with 3.5 blocks per game, tied his career highs with 16 points and nine boards Wednesday.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (11-19, 4-13): Senior forward Robert Franks leads the Pac-12 in scoring at 21.5 points but has reached that number only once in the last six contests as he plays his final game in Pullman. Elleby averages 15.2 points - second-highest among Pac-12 freshmen behind Arizona State's Luguentz Dort (16.2) - and 6.9 rebounds, second on the club to Franks (7.3). “We know that we are right there and can play with anyone in the conference,” Elleby, who averages a team-high 3.0 assists, told reporters.

TIP-INS

1. The Beavers are trying for their first winning season in the Pac-12 since the 1989-90 club went 15-3 and shared the regular-season title with Arizona.

2. Franks, F Davante Cooper (5.9 minutes in 17 games) and G Viont’e Daniels (6.5 points) will be honored on Senior Day.

3. The Beavers have won nine of the last 10 meetings, including four straight in Pullman.

PREDICTION: Oregon State 75, Washington State 74