After experiencing a turbulent season last year, Oregon State will look to start this season 2-0 when it hosts Troy on Friday at Corvallis, Ore.
The Beavers are coming off Monday’s season-opening 82-46 victory over Linfield.
Jordan Pope, selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team last year, led the Beavers with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field.
Pope was one of a few young players coach Wayne Tinkle relied on last season when Oregon State went 11-21 overall and 5-12 in the Pac-12.
“We made the commitment to go young, which not many people do, and we’re confident we’re going to be able to build this thing to last,” said Tinkle, who is in his 10th season as head coach with the Beavers.
Injuries caused many of Oregon State’s problems last season.
Chol Marial, a 7-foot-2 senior from South Sudan, missed the final 23 games of the season with an ankle injury. Guards Christian Wright and Justin Rochelin also missed playing time with injuries.
Marial, Wright, Rochelin and Pope are among 10 returnees this season along with fellow starter Tyler Bilodeau, who played significant time as a freshman a year ago.
Bilodeau had 11 points in the win over Linfield.
Dexter Akanno, a senior who returned after transferring from Marquette before the 2021-22 season, also had 11 points.
Troy is 1-1 after beating Fort Lauderdale 92-47 on Monday and losing at Ohio 88-70 on Wednesday.
Christyon Eugene led the Trojans with 19 points against Ohio.
Tayton Conerway, a junior college transfer, had 13 points while going 4-for-4 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Troy outrebounded Ohio 40-32, including grabbing 13 offensive boards.
Aamer Muhammad and Eugene each had seven boards.
Troy limited Ohio to 45 percent shooting from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range.
“It was a closer game than the score showed, in my opinion,” Troy coach Scott Cross said. “But we didn’t do what needed to do down the stretch and they did. It’s going to be a learning experience for this group. We are going to get better as the season progresses.”
–Field Level Media