Marcel Jones leads Beavers as they rally for two-point win at Northern Colorado

The Associated Press

GREELEY, Colo. — Wesley Washington hit the game-winning jump shot with 7.9 seconds left and Marcel Jones scored 21 of his career-high 35 points in the second half as Oregon State survived a scare to beat Northern Colorado 69-67 Friday.

Jones was 7-for-12 in the second half as the Beavers erased a 13-point halftime deficit. Kyle Jeffers had 10 points for Oregon State (3-3) which snapped a two-game losing streak.

Sean Taibi led Northern Colorado (1-5) with 20 points. Kirk Archibeque added 12 points for the Bears.

Seth Tarver tied it for Oregon State at 65 with a driving layup and Jeffers connected on two free throws before Dwayne Birden’s two free throws for Northern Colorado tied it at 67. Washington calmly hit a 15-foot jumper to win the game.

After trailing by 13 at the half, Oregon State closed the gap to 43-41 as Jones hit two 3-pointers and had 10 points in a 14-3 run. The Beavers took the lead, 54-52, on Washington’s 3-pointer with 9:07 remaining. Darren Moore’s 3-pointers with 3:48 left gave Northern Colorado a 64-63 lead and moments later Archibeque hit one free throw.

Northern Colorado used 11 points from Taibi and 36 percent shooting by Oregon State to lead 40-27 at halftime. With the game tied at 8, Taibi and Matt Kline contributed a 3-pointer each in a 15-3 run to build a 23-11 lead.

Jones scored six straight points to help get Oregon State within 24-18 with 7:48 left. Jefferson Mason’s 3-pointer beat the buzzer to put UNC ahead by 13 points at the break.