CORVALLIS - Washington unleashed the hounds of war on Oregon State on Saturday and made the smack-talking Beavers pay for their ill-advised indiscretion with one of the worst home-court defeats in the program’s 107-year history.

The Huskies were angered by a verbal confrontation with several Beavers on Ralph Miller Court as Washington wrapped up its Friday afternoon shootaround. Later, multiple witnesses confirmed that a group of OSU players assembled in the parking lot outside the Hilton Garden Inn, where Washington stayed on Friday night.

According to Washington officials, junior guard Joel Smith, one of the more vocal Huskies at the practice argument, received a threatening phone message from an OSU player, which he recorded and then reported to head coach Lorenzo Romar.

Cooler heads prevailed on Friday night and after several phone calls, Romar and OSU coach Kevin Mouton resolved the issue without further escalation. But the sleeping Dawgs were roused. Any chance they would be sulking after Thursday night’s loss at Oregon, and perhaps overlook or not take the hapless Beavers seriously, had evaporated.

And the Huskies (14-12, 5-8) made OSU (6-19, 0-13) pay, pay, and pay some more, with one 3-pointer or uncontested slam dunk after another. The 97-59 destruction, witnessed by a benumbed crowd of 5,539, was OSU’s second-worst home loss in school history.

It stretched the Beavers’ losing streak to 15 games and broke a tie with the 1995-96 club for the longest tailspin ever. If not for a turnover and a missed 3-pointer in the final 54 seconds, Washington could have hung a 100 on OSU for the third time in the last 10 games between the longtime Northwest rivals.

“We had a workmanlike approach. We had focus, a no-nonsense attitude,” Romar said afterward. “Our guys responded. If someone comes into your practice and tells you what they’re going to do to you, you better be ready to play.

“At that point you can either not show up for the game, or come and meet the challenge. Our guys were challenged. We did a good job of maintaining our composure, not rubbing in anything, just playing good, solid, clean basketball.”

Romar said the situation wouldn’t be completely diffused until the Huskies boarded their bus and headed for home without further incident. But he took a conciliatory tone and said he hoped what transpired could be a learning experience.

“Sometimes young kids do things that maybe you are not proud of later, a mistake that hopefully you learn from and move on,” he said. “Kevin did a fantastic job. I don’t feel (he) needed a whole lot of time to ponder what to do. He knew exactly how to handle it and their guys handled themselves on the floor well tonight.”

Said Mouton: “It was just jibberjabber. Nineteen-year-olds with big egos.”

Oh, about the game. Washington led 1-0 on a technical foul shot before the clock even started, as OSU was penalized for not submitting a starting lineup at least 10 minutes before tipoff.

And after OSU took a 5-1 lead, Washington answered with a 22-3 run, fueled by senior guard Ryan Appleby’s eight points, to blow out to a 23-8 lead and the Beavers never got closer than 11. Washington eventually led by 41 points; the only suspense was, would a game that started to get chippy in the second half end without fisticuffs?

Appleby buried the Beavers under an avalanche of nine 3-pointers, a school record, and a career-best 32 points.

“Obviously we didn’t go with the game plan to face guard him and not let him get the ball,” said Lathen Wallace, whose 16 led the Beavers. “We got confused on defense and we need to work on that.

“He’s a real good shooter. He is tough, you have to respect him. He came in here and did a good job.”

Guard Justin Dentmon - who on Friday said it would be “an embarrassment” to lose to the woebegone Beavers - hit 3 of 4 threes en route to 17 points.

Jon Brockman had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Matt Bryan-Amaning spiced his 12 points and 10 rebounds with several rim-shaking dunks, and Quincy Pondexter had 12 points.

The two Beavers who instigated Friday’s fracas, Marcel Jones and Sean Carter, were virtual no-shows. Jones had three points and no rebounds in 12 minutes and left the court without shaking hands with the Husky players and coaches in the traditional post-game conga line.

Carter had no points, one rebound, two fouls, two turnovers and a technical foul in 10 minutes.

“There was nothing positive to take away from this game,” OSU’s Omari Johnson said. “I guess a lesson learned (was) how not to act before a game, to keep our focus.

“It wasn’t smart but I understand where they were coming from. They were trying to defend our players in our gym who felt disrespected.

Added Wallace: “The whole thing was silly, none of that stuff should have happened. We’re here to play, not argue with each other. We’re here to play. Tonight we didn’t.”