Washington beats Oregon State, improves to 7-0 in Pac-12

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Nahziah Carter had highlight-reel dunks and 18 points with three steals as Washington used suffocating defense to beat Oregon State 79-69 on Saturday.

Jaylen Nowell scored 19 points with three 3-pointers and David Crisp had 14 points for the Huskies (16-4, 7-0 Pac-12).

Stephen Thompson Jr. had 30 points with six 3-pointers and Tres Tinkle added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Beavers (12-7, 4-3 Pac-12).

The Huskies’ zone stifled Oregon State, forcing the Beavers into 44-percent shooting and 15 turnovers. Washington scored 25 points off turnovers, shot 58 percent from the field and had 12 turnovers.

Washington forced five early turnovers and took an 11-0 lead after a Matisse Thybulle steal and breakaway dunk at the 17-minute, 1-second mark.

A 7-0 run – including a ferocious dunk and three-point play by Carter over rim protector Kylor Kelley, then a Carter steal and dunk on the next possession – put the Huskies up 22-7 with 11:38 remaining in the first half.

Washington led 40-27 at the break.

The Huskies led by as many as 21 in the second half. Late Thompson 3-pointers made the score seem more respectable.

Thybulle, the reigning Pac-12 defensive player of the year, finished with 11 points and five steals.