Kelley scores 16 points, leads Oregon State over Utah 70-51
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State has something to build on following a 70-51 rout of Utah on Thursday night.
Kylor Kelley scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Oregon State (15-9, 5-7 Pac-12) to its most lopsided conference win of the season.
“It’s great. It’s the first time we’ve won consecutive games in league (this season),” Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle said. “I thought tonight the difference was our guy’s effort We just kind of wore on ‘em."
Kelley was a problem for Utah (14-10, 5-7) at both ends of the court. He was 7 of 10 from the field with five dunks, and also blocked two shots. The 7-foot senior post leads the Pac-12 and is second nationally in blocked shots.
“When he screens like that and sprints to screens, and sprints to the rim on the roll, boy it puts opponents in a tough spot,” Tinkle said.
Utah, which beat Oregon State 81-69 at home Jan. 2 in the Pac-12 opener for both teams, struggled offensively in the rematch. The Utes hit just 37.3 percent from the field.
The Beavers led by 25 points at 68-43 on Kelley’s dunk with 3:42 remaining.
Utah never got closer than 15 points in the second half after trailing 35-19 at the break.
“You can’t score 19 points in a half, and we were in a little bit of a funk offensively,” Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said. “There’s a different story line every game and this one was a little new to us."
Ethan Thompson added 13 points and matched his career-high with 11 assists for the Beavers. Leading scorer Tres Tinkle had 11 points, and Zach Reichle also was in double figures with 10 points.
Oregon State received solid contributions off the bench led by Jarod Lucas, who scored eight first-half points. Nine different players made field goals.
The Beavers take momentum into Saturday’s game against No. 16 Colorado, a team they beat 76-68 on the road Jan. 5.
“For us we take every game one game at a time,” Lucas said. “We don’t look past anybody. We have some momentum and we’re just gonna keep on trying to build that game after game."
Branden Carlson was the only Utah player in double figures with 13 points. Timmy Allen, who came into the game averaging a team-high 18.3 points, was held to six points.
After limiting then-No. 14 Oregon to just 21 second-half points in a 63-53 win in their previous game last Saturday, the Beavers were strong defensively again against Utah, playing primarily man-to-man defense.
“We’re a little more locked in and we’re communicating better,” Wayne Tinkle said.
Oregon State utilized a 12-2 run midway through the first half to take control.
The Beavers biggest first-half lead was 17 points at 33-16 on Kelley’s alley-oop dunk.
Utah shot just 29.6 percent in the first half and struggled at the foul line as well, hitting 1 of 6.
BIG PICTURE
Utah: Allen, who scored 25 points in the Utes’ 81-69 victory over Oregon State on Jan. 2 in the Pac-12 opener, was held to a season-low six points. … Utah’s two-game winning streak came to an end.
Oregon State: Tinkle extended his double-figure scoring streak to 89 games, matching the school record of Mel Counts. Tinkle needs 65 points to pass Gary Payton (2,172) to become the leading scorer in Oregon State history.
UP NEXT
Utah plays at No. 17 Oregon on Sunday.
Oregon State hosts No. 16 Colorado on Saturday.