Oregon posts second-highest Sun Bowl win

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Yvenson Bernard barely pushed into the end zone on a gutsy 2-point conversion run after Joe Newton caught a 14-yard touchdown pass with 22.1 seconds left, and No. 24 Oregon State beat Missouri 39-38 in the Sun Bowl today.

The Beavers (10-4) trailed by 14 points with 12:08 to go before rallying for their eighth victory in nine games. Bernard’s 7-yard reception had cut the gap to seven with 6:02 to go.

Tony Temple had 194 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns and Chase Daniel threw two touchdown passes for Missouri (8-5). The Tigers lost four of their last five after a 6-0 start.

Matt Moore threw four touchdown passes and ran for a fifth for Oregon State, which helped produce the second-highest scoring game in the Sun Bowl’s 73-year history. He was 5-for-7 for 55 yards on the winning drive, set up after Sammie Stroughter’s 38-yard punt return to the Oregon State 46.

Bernard’s conversion run came after Missouri called a timeout to freeze kicker Alexis Serna before the extra point.

Missouri had seven plays of 29 yards or longer, including Danario Alexander’s 74-yard touchdown catch and Temple’s 65-yard run against a defense that ranked in the middle of the Pac-10. Missouri responded after Oregon State scored on its opening drive of the second half for a 21-17 lead.

Tommie Saunders’ 29-yard TD catch from tight end Chase Coffman off a lateral gave the lead back to Missouri and Temple’s 65-yard untouched touchdown run seemingly put the Tigers in control.