CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth non-conference battle decided at the free-throw line, the Oregon State Beavers held off a persistent Illinois-Chicago Flames squad for a 76-73 victory on Friday night at Gill Coliseum.

In a game that featured 15 ties and 16 lead changes, neither team led by more than seven points. The outcome was sealed in the final eight seconds when Oregon State’s Matija Samar calmly sank two free throws to push the lead to three. A last-second, desperation three-point attempt by UIC’s Ahmad Henderson rimmed out as time expired.

The Beavers improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the Flames evened their record at 1-1.

Oregon State guard Josiah Lake was the offensive catalyst, leading all scorers with 22 points. His backcourt mate, Matija Samar, filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Forward Johan Munch narrowly missed a double-double, contributing nine points and 10 rebounds.

The Flames were led by a balanced scoring attack. Henderson scored 18 points, while Jayce Nathaniel added 16 points and seven rebounds. Andy Johnson chipped in 15 points, and Sam Silverstein provided a spark off the bench with 10 points.

The first half was a shootout, with Oregon State taking a 42-37 lead into the break. The Beavers built their advantage on efficient shooting, hitting 50 percent from the floor in the opening period. UIC stayed close by forcing nine first-half turnovers, converting them into 12 points.

The second half was a grind, defined by defensive pressure and crucial possessions. UIC’s aggressive defense forced 19 total Beaver turnovers, leading to 25 points. The Flames also dominated in transition, outscoring Oregon State 22-11 in fastbreak points.

However, the Beavers countered with superior efficiency on offense. Despite having the same number of possessions as UIC, Oregon State posted an offensive rating of 110.3 compared to the Flames’ 105.8. The Beavers also won the battle on the glass, securing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.

UIC had multiple opportunities to take the lead in the final minutes, but untimely turnovers and missed shots proved costly. With the game tied at 71, Lake hit a clutch jumper to give Oregon State a lead it would not relinquish. After a Johnson three-pointer brought UIC back within one at 74-73, the Flames were forced to foul, setting up Samar’s game-clinching free throws.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 3,476 at Gill Coliseum. UIC next hosts St. Francis on Tuesday, while Oregon State travels to face in-state rival Oregon on Nov. 17.