SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless defensive pressure and dramatic momentum swings, the Oregon State Beavers escaped Jenny Craig Pavilion with a 78-76 overtime victory over the San Diego Toreros in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday night.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 1,433, saw neither team lead by more than seven points and featured 35 combined turnovers and 12 ties. The Beavers improved to 12-12 overall, while the Toreros fell to 10-14.

Oregon State appeared to seize control late in regulation. Trailing 60-55 with under two minutes to play, the Beavers unleashed a stunning 8-0 run. Josiah Lake, who played 41 minutes, hit a critical 3-pointer with 36 seconds left to tie the game at 60. After a San Diego turnover, Lake struck again from beyond the arc with 12 seconds remaining, giving Oregon State a 63-60 advantage.

San Diego’s Adrian McIntyre, however, forced overtime with a clutch 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in the extra period, knotting the score at 73. The Toreros had one final chance to win or force a second overtime after Oregon State’s Josiah Lake committed a turnover with seconds remaining. Following a timeout, San Diego’s Juanse Gorosito connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it only served to provide the final margin as the Beavers had already done enough to secure the win.

The most pivotal sequence occurred in the final minute of overtime with Oregon State clinging to a 75-73 lead. San Diego’s Ty-Laur Johnson was called for a flagrant foul, sending Lake to the line. Lake missed both free throws, but on the ensuing possession, Isaiah Sy was fouled and made both of his attempts to push the lead to four. Moments later, after a San Diego turnover, Matija Samar buried a 3-pointer off a Sy assist, giving the Beavers a 78-73 cushion with 1:23 to play. That five-point burst proved insurmountable, as San Diego could only answer with Gorosito’s last-second triple.

The game was a stark contrast in styles and efficiency. Oregon State’s offense, while not sharp, was opportunistic. The Beavers shot just 40.3% from the field but compensated by hitting 10 of 26 from 3-point range and converting 18 San Diego turnovers into 18 points. San Diego shot 43.3% overall and won the battle in the paint 32-26 and in fastbreak points 19-11, but made only 9 of 12 free throws and committed 19 turnovers.

McIntyre, a guard from Sylmar, California, led all scorers with 21 points for San Diego, including the game-tying 3-pointer in overtime. Assane Diop of Rufisque, Senegal, added 13 points and two blocks, while Tim Moore of Houston contributed 11 points, five blocks and seven defensive rebounds.

Oregon State was led by a balanced international attack. Johan Munch, a 6-foot-11 center from Copenhagen, Denmark, posted 15 points and was a force defensively. Lake finished with 12 points and eight assists, while Dez White of Jefferson City, Missouri, and Matija Samar of Jesenice, Slovenia, each added 12 points. Samar’s overtime 3-pointer was a critical blow.

The Beavers built a 30-25 halftime lead behind early 3-pointers and active defense but watched it evaporate as San Diego opened the second half on a 14-5 run. The Toreros led for much of the second half until Oregon State’s late flurry set the stage for the extra period.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Oregon State entered with a 61% probability to win. The Beavers have now won two straight following a road victory at Loyola Marymount. San Diego was coming off an overtime win at Pepperdine.

Oregon State returns home to face Washington State on Wednesday. San Diego travels to face Saint Mary’s on the same night. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Corvallis on Feb. 25.