CORVALLIS — Roberto Nelson scored 22 points and Oregon State opened the season with a 102-83 victory over Niagara in the 2K Sports Classic on Friday night.
Ahmad Starks and Angus Brandt scored 18 points each for the Beavers, who had six players in double figures. Eric Moreland added 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Marvin Jordan scored 17 points for the Purple Eagles, who trailed by as many as 25 points in the second half. It was the first-ever meeting between Niagara and Oregon State.
The Beavers reached the 100-point mark in the opener after scoring 100 or more points four times last season, a school record.
Eric Moreland’s dunk with 9:04 left in the first half gave the Beavers a 30-20 lead, before Nelson’s 3-pointer made it 53-39 at the half.
The Purple Eagles had a 9-2 run in the second half, capped by Ameen Tanksley’s 3-pointer that narrowed it to 66-53. Oregon State answered with its own 9-2 run that made it 75-55 after Nelson’s 3-pointer. Devon Collier’s dunk gave the Beavers an 88-65 lead.
Oregon State shot 57 percent from the floor for the game, while the Purple Eagles shot 38 percent. The Beavers out-rebounded Niagara 52-37.
It was the 65th win for coach Craig Robinson, who is embarking on his fifth season with the Beavers.
Nelson is starting at point guard for Oregon State this season after the early departure of Jared Cunningham, a star for last season’s 21-15 Beavers team.
Niagara, which plays in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, went 14-19 last season. They are led by Juan’ya Green, who averaged 17.1 points and 4.5 assists last season as the MAAC Freshman of the Year.
Against the Beavers, Green scored 14 points and had nine assists.
Niagara’s last meeting with a member of the Pac-12 Conference was a 69-62 loss to USC in 1986.
The 2K Sports Classic benefits the Wounded Warrior Project. The Beavers will host New Mexico State Sunday as part of the event.
Also on Friday:
No. 13 UCLA 86
Indiana State 59
LOS ANGELES — Jordan Adams scored 21 points in his college debut and UCLA defeated Indiana State in its season opener. Adams, the school’s first-ever signee out of vaunted Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, was seven of 12 from the floor and had eight rebounds off the bench for the Bruins (1-0).
Stanford 74
San Francisco 62
OAKLAND, Calif. — Dwight Powell scored 18 of his career-high 27 points in the second half as Stanford beat San Francisco in the season opener for both teams. Powell left the game with an apparent left knee injury with 1:35 remaining. Josh Huestis added 11 points for the Cardinal, who improved to 23-2 in their past 25 openers.
Colorado 74
Wofford 59
BOULDER, Colo. — Freshman Josh Scott scored 14 points in his first game for Colorado, leading the Buffaloes to a victory over Wofford in the season opener for both teams. Askia Booker and Spencer Dinwiddie added 13 points apiece for the Buffaloes, who improved to 30-3 in home openers.
Utah 104
Willamette 47
SALT LAKE CITY — Jordan Loveridge scored 18 points and fellow freshman Justin Seymour added 16 as Utah cruised past Division III opponent Willamette in the Utes’ season opener. Reserve Dakarai Tucker, another freshman, added 15 points as six Utah players scored in double figures.
USC 87
Coppin State 73
LOS ANGELES — Byron Wesley scored 17 points, leading USC to a victory over Coppin State. Omar Oraby had 16 points and six rebounds a day after his hardship waiver petition was approved by the NCAA — making him eligible to play immediately.
