Jan. 20, 2005
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - David Lucas scored 27 points and Nick DeWitz added 22 on 9-of-9 shooting to lead Oregon State to an 88-66 win over Arizona State on Thursday.
The Beavers (11-6, 3-3 Pacific Coast Conference) shot 62.5 percent in their first full game under assistant Kevin Mouton, who filled in as coach Jay John receives treatment for hypertension.
Ike Diogu had 27 points for Arizona State (13-4, 2-4). Kevin Kruger added nine for the Sun Devils, who have lost straight conference games.
Diogu, the Pac-10 leader in scoring, rebounding and blocks entering the game, carried the load for the Sun Devils in the first half, scoring 22 of their first 32 points.
His back-to-back 3-pointers gave Arizona State a 28-22 lead, but the Beavers' shooting kept them in the game. DeWitz made all five of his first-half shots and Jason Fontenet hit all four of his as Oregon State took a 42-39 lead at the break.
Oregon State dominated the second half as Diogu's influence evaporated. Chris Stephens scored back-to-back baskets for the Beavers, increasing the lead to 61-48.
Arizona State called timeout, but the Beavers kept rolling. Lucas powered inside for two points, J.S. Nash hit two free throws and Lamar Hurd fed DeWitz for an alley-oop dunk that increased the lead to 19.
John was hospitalized this weekend in Seattle after leaving the Beavers' 108-68 loss to Washington at halftime with chest pains and shortness of breath. He watched the game on a TV in the Gill Coliseum basement and may miss Oregon State's Saturday game with Arizona.
Diogu, a junior forward, has scored in double figures in every game in his career, a streak that has reached 77 games.
Hurd had nine assists for Oregon State.