Tonight marks the start of the Pac-12 Conference portion of the schedule for the Oregon State and University of Oregon men’s basketball teams, as the Beavers take on the rival Ducks in the Civil War.

The Beavers will carry a solid 10-3 record into the 7 p.m. game in Gill Coliseum. The Ducks are 11-2.

For Oregon State, it’s the third loss that has created cause for some concern.

On Dec. 29, the Beavers had a 19-point lead at home against Towson, then let it all slip away in a 67-66 overtime loss.

Yes, the Beavers rebounded with an 84-59 blowout of Texas-Pan-American on Monday.

Still, coach Craig Robinson was asked about the Towson game when he met with members of the media on Wednesday.

“I feel that the Towson game is, and will continue to be, extremely important for us,” Robinson said. “I talked about our team trying to have more confidence, and I never imagined that we could go into a game overconfident and I thought we did.

“I thought we got out to a lead and we sort of tried to coast our way through it thinking about the next game or thinking about the next couple of games, especially since it’s the Civil War game.

“And it was very good that we had a little wake-up call. I have to tell you that the practice we had after that game might have been one of the best practices we’ve had in two weeks. So I guess that would be lesson learned.”

The lesson comes from an agonizing 10-minute or so stretch, and it raised questions about which players the Beavers can call on late in games now that Jared Cunningham is gone.

As concerning as the offensive woes were down the stretch against Towson, the Beavers’ lack of communication and inability to get stops on defense may be more glaring.

Someone must step up on both ends of the floor.

Robinson said his veterans did a good job regrouping following the Towson loss.

“The veterans of the team sort of took it upon themselves to get the team ready for practice and get them ready for the next game,” Robinson said.

That’s all fine and dandy, but if the Beavers can find no one to step up and knock down clutch shots late, or get on the same page on defense, it could be a long conference season.

Let’s not forget, the Beavers were 10-2 last season heading into conference play, then dropped five of their first six Pac-12 games.

The Beavers have a tough three-game stretch to open the Pac-12 season this year.

Following tonight’s game against the Ducks, the Beavers welcome Arizona State on Thursday and No. 3 Arizona the following Saturday.

OSU needs to get a win or two at home, or another promising start could come crashing to a halt.

Oregon will be playing on the road for just the third time this season. The Ducks are a perfect 10-0 at home after a 56-43 win over Nevada on New Year’s Eve.

Oregon and Oregon State will be meeting for the 338th time, making it the most-contested rivalry in college basketball. OSU leads the all-time series 184-153.

The Beavers and Ducks split their two games with each other last season, with both teams winning on the road. Oregon State’s 76-71 win over Oregon on Jan. 29, 2012, marks the Ducks’ last loss at Matthew Knight Arena.

Next up

What: 338th meeting between Oregon State (10-3) and Oregon (11-2); Pac-12 Conference opener for both teams

Where: Gill Coliseum, Corvallis

When: Today, 7 p.m.

TV: Root Sports

Radio: KICE-AM 940; KBND-AM 1110