By PAT GRAHAM

Associated Press

@pgraham34

January 14, 2016 8:00 a.m.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) – Josh Scott and Wesley Gordon combined for 37 points, 26 rebounds and nine blocked shots to help Colorado withstand a career night from Gary Payton II in a 71-54 win over Oregon State on Wednesday.

Scott finished with a season-high 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Fellow big man Gordon was just as effective as he contributed 12 points and 14 boards for the Buffaloes (13-4, 2-2 Pac-12), who bounced back from a demoralizing 56-54 loss to Utah last week on a last-second layup.

Payton had a sensational game for Oregon State (11-4, 2-2) as he scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed a season-best 15 rebounds. He kept the Beavers in this game when not much else was working.

The senior guard has now scored in double figures in 14 of 15 games this season.

The Buffaloes built a 35-29 lead with 15:33 remaining, but that’s when Payton went to work. He outscored Colorado 9-2 during a 2:33 that gave Oregon State a 38-37 advantage.

Just the kind of evening it was for Payton. He also had three assists and three steals.

Colorado stormed back, though, by becoming assertive and attacking the rim. Gordon energized the crowd when he slammed home a rebound and Josh Fortune was later fouled after making a layup.

A 3-pointer by Thomas Akyazili and a pair of free throws from Dominique Collier made it 56-45 with 5:49 left and the Buffaloes cruised to the finish.

Payton is in the midst of a stellar season, leading Oregon State in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He’s attempting to become just the second player at Oregon State to accomplish the feat. Lester Conner led the Beavers in all four categories in 1981-82, when he averaged 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.0 steals.

In between making shots and grabbing rebounds, Payton received some good-natured ribbing from the student section, which chanted “Daddy’s Shadow” when he stepped to the free throw line. Payton’s father, Gary, is regarded as one of the top point guards in NBA history and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Scott led the Buffaloes to a 29-25 halftime lead with 11 points. He and Gordon both stepped outside and hit a rare 3-pointer. They now have a combined seven 3-pointers this season.

Payton nearly had a double-double in the first half, with eight points and 10 rebounds.

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TIP INS

Oregon State: Olaf Schaftenaar of was 0 for 2 from 3-point range, ending a string of 13 straight games with at least one. … Stephen Thompson Jr. had 10 points. … Jarmal Reid and Drew Eubanks fouled out for the Beavers.

Colorado: Fortune added 12 for the Buffaloes, who out-rebounded Oregon State by a 48-33 margin. … Colorado shot 42.3 percent from the floor.

UP NEXT

Oregon State plays at Utah on Sunday

Colorado hosts Oregon on Sunday