LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- Oregon State tries to make amends for a disappointing bowl performance last season when it takes on New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl on Christmas Eve.
The Beavers, who are playing in their fourth bowl in five years, were routed by Pittsburgh, 38-13, last year in the Insight Bowl. Oregon State was outscored, 28-3, in the second half.
The Beavers (7-5) struggled down the stretch this season, losing their last two games and four of their final six contests. Oregon State concluded its regular season with a 52-28 loss at Southern California.
Oregon State boasts a potent offense that includes the Pac-10 Conference's leading passer in Derek Anderson and leading rusher in Steven Jackson.
Anderson passed for a school-record 485 yards against USC, finishing the regular season with 3,736 yards. Jackson was held to 62 yards against the Trojans, but has rushed for 1,396 yards on a school-record 322 carries and needs just 41 all-purpose yards to break his school mark of 1,855.
James Newson set another Oregon State record with seven 100-yard receiving games, ending the regular season with 78 receptions for 1,249 yards and three TDs.
New Mexico (8-4) paced the Mountain West Conference in rushing defense (88.6 yards per game) and total defense (278.9 ypg).
The Lobos are headed back to the Las Vegas Bowl after losing to UCLA, 27-13, here last year. They are making consecutive bowl appearances for the first time in 57 years and are seeking their first bowl win since 1961.
Last year's Las Vegas Bowl saw Katie Hdina of New Mexico become the first woman to play in a Division I-A game when she had an extra point blocked.
New Mexico finished second in the Mountain West Conference, winning seven of its last eight games following a 1-3 start. The Lobos handed Utah its only conference loss but suffered home defeats to Brigham Young and Nevada-Las Vegas. The Lobos are the only team in Division I-A to increase its win total every year since 1999.
DonTrell Moore rushed for a school-record 1,438 yards for New Mexico while also setting single-season school marks for rushing attempts (266) and touchdowns (19).
New Mexico and Oregon State split their previous two meetings and will play again in September in Corvallis.
