El Paso, Texas ? In the lowest-scoring major bowl game in a half-century, No. 24 Oregon State shut down No. 18 Pittsburgh, 3-0, in the Sun Bowl on Justin Kahut’s 44-yard field goal late in the first half Wednesday.

The defensive struggle included 20 punts and nine sacks. Pitt kicker Connor Lee tried a 58-yard field goal in the closing minutes but the ball, helped by a steady wind, dropped just short of the crossbar.

Not since Air Force and TCU played to a 0-0 standoff in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1959, had a bowl produced so few points.

Oregon State (9-4) improved to 5-0 in bowls since coach Mike Riley began his second stint as their coach in 2003.