COL BKB: Oregon St. 81, Texas-El Paso 73

EL PASO, Texas, April 4 (UPI) -- Rickey Claitt scored 28 points Friday in leading Oregon State to an 81-73 win over Texas-El Paso and the championship of the College Basketball Invitational.

After the teams split the first two games of the best-of-three championship series by winning on their own court, the Beavers pulled off a road victory that allowed them to finish their season at 18-18.

Texas-El Paso cut what had been a 14-point deficit with 3:15 to play down to six with 2:06 to go, but Oregon State made 9-of-13 foul shots the rest of the way to maintain its lead.

Claitt hit 8-of-9 shots from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. He also was good on 7-of-8 free throw attempts. Lathan Wallace added 14 points.

The Miners (23-14) were led by Stefon Jackson with 26 points.