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USC might be dead last in the Pac-12 men’s basketball standings.

But don’t expect Oregon State to be taking the Trojans lightly.

“I don’t think their record reflects how good of a team they are because of how good the Pac-12 team is this year,” OSU senior guard Roberto Nelson said Tuesday before the Beavers began their on-court preparations for Thursday night’s game with the Trojans in Los Angeles.

OSU (14-12, 6-8 Pac-12) needs only to look at its last game with USC (10-17, 1-13) as a reminder.

Pe’Shon Taylor’s missed free throw with nine-tenths of a second left in overtime helped the Beavers walk away with a 76-75 home win on Jan. 30.

“We’ve got to approach this game as seriously as we’ve approached any other game,” said OSU senior center Angus Brandt.

On the Beavers’ game plan is trying to slow down Trojans center Omar Oraby, who had 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in the first matchup.

The 7-foot-2 Oraby averages 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds and shoots 58 percent from the floor.