CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — A frigid offensive performance and a decisive second-half surge by Oregon State doomed Seattle on Thursday night at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers, capitalizing on a significant disparity at the free-throw line and a stifling defensive effort, pulled away from the Redhawks for a 68-55 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game.

The contest was a defensive struggle from the outset, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. Seattle held a narrow 35-37 lead at halftime, but the game’s complexion changed dramatically after the break. Oregon State tightened its defense, and Seattle’s shooting woes reached a critical point. The Redhawks managed only 20 points in the second half, shooting a dismal 18 for 60 from the field for the game, including 6 of 26 from three-point range.

The most important stretch of the game occurred midway through the second half, turning a tight contest into a comfortable Oregon State lead. With Seattle clinging to a 48-45 advantage after a John Christofilis layup with 11 minutes remaining, the Redhawks’ offense completely seized up. Over the next seven minutes and 19 seconds, Seattle failed to score a single point from the field, missing nine consecutive shots and committing three turnovers.

Oregon State pounced during this drought. The Beavers engineered a 17-2 run that transformed the three-point deficit into a 62-50 lead with just over three minutes to play. The run was fueled by inside scoring and free throws. Jorge Diaz Graham, a 6-foot-11 forward from Spain, was pivotal, scoring six points during the surge, including a layup and four made free throws. Isaiah Sy of France capped the run with a three-pointer, assisted by Josiah Lake, effectively sealing the outcome. Seattle’s scoring drought was finally broken by Austin Maurer’s free throws at the 3:32 mark, but by then the damage was irreparable.

The free-throw line told a significant part of the story. Oregon State attempted 29 free throws, making 23, while Seattle went just 13 for 24 from the stripe. That 10-point advantage proved insurmountable on a night where field goals were at a premium. The Beavers also won the battle of efficiency, posting an offensive rating of 96.1 points per 100 possessions compared to Seattle’s 79.3, despite both teams having a nearly identical number of possessions.

Diaz Graham led all scorers with 13 points for Oregon State, adding three blocks in 25 minutes. He was one of four Beavers in double figures, joined by Yaak Yaak of Australia and Isaiah Sy, who also had 13 points each, and Matija Samar of Slovenia, who contributed 10 points. Josiah Lake, from Tualatin, Oregon, directed the offense with a game-high seven assists.

For Seattle, Brayden Maldonado of Anchorage, Alaska, and John Christofilis of Seattle each scored 13 points to lead the Redhawks. Will Heimbrodt added eight points and four assists, while Maleek Arington dished out five assists. The Redhawks were hampered by 30 percent shooting from the field and their struggles at the foul line.

With the loss, Seattle falls to 12-6 on the season. The Redhawks will look to rebound when they return to Western Athletic Conference play, hosting San Diego next Thursday. Oregon State improves to 9-9 and will travel to face Portland on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in a rematch in Seattle on Feb. 15.

The announced attendance at Gill Coliseum was 3,273. Oregon State, which entered the game as a slight underdog according to pregame betting lines, outperformed expectations, while the combined point total of 123 fell well under the projected over/under.