Beavers To Face Titans Friday At Far West Classic
December 15, 2015 | Men's Basketball
THE GAME: The spirit of a legendary 40-year holiday basketball tradition returns when Oregon State (6-2) takes on Cal State Fullerton (6-3) in the Far West Classic Invite at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore.
TELEVISION: The game will be televised on Pac-12 Networks and Pac-12 Oregon with JB Long and Lamar Hurd calling the action.
For information on how to watch the game online or on a mobile device, click on this link. If you live overseas and want to watch the game, it is available via Eversport or YouTube at this link.
RADIO: The game will air live on Beaver Sports Radio Network with Mike Parker calling the action. It can also be heard online at this link.
LIVE STATS: There will be live stats at this link.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Live updates will be available on Twitter and Facebook.
TICKETS: Fans can secure Oregon State men's basketball season tickets and single-game tickets by visiting this link or calling 800-GO-BEAVS. Far West Classic Invite tickets will be included for all Oregon State men's basketball season ticket holders, giving fans a total of 18 games to watch in Corvallis and Portland during the 2015-16 season (including the exhibition game).
For Far West Classic Invite tickets and other information, click on this link.
THE SERIES: Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton meet for the third time in history with the series tied, 1-1. The Beavers outscored the Titans 35-12 in the second half to easily win the first matchup, 68-35, on Nov. 17, 2000 at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis. Josh Steinthal came off the bench to score a game-high 16 points, while Jason Heide had 14 and Adam Masten chipped in 13. Brian Jackson added seven points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Titans got revenge on March 16, 2005 when they won in overtime in the first round of the NIT, 85-83, at Gill Coliseum. Cal State Fullerton jumped out to an 18-point lead early in the second half before the Beavers rallied to force overtime. Oregon State took a three-point lead in OT but Ralphy Holmes hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer.
Bobby Brown and Holmes each scored 27 points for the Titans, while David Lucas led the Beavers with 26 points. Nick DeWitz had a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, J.S. Nash scored 15 points off the bench and Chris Stephens knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with 12 for Oregon State.
It was the Beavers' first postseason appearance since playing in the NCAA Tournament in1990 and their first trip to the NIT since 1987.
QUICKLY: Oregon State is 6-2 to start the season for the fifth consecutive year ... The Beavers will play three games in four days and then have 13 days off before the Pac-12 opener on Jan. 3 against Oregon ... Oregon State is second in the Pac-12, and 26th in the nation, in 3-point field goal percentage (.405); the school record is .406 in 1987-88 ... Tres Tinkle became the first Oregon State player to make five 3-pointers in a half since Ahmad Starks did the same against Kansas in 2012 ... Stephen Thompson Jr. and Tinkle have come off the bench in every game and are tied for second on the team in scoring (10.4) ... Gary Payton II leads the Pac-12 in steals (2.88) and No. 1 plays on SportsCenter Top 10 (1) ... Malcolm Duvivier is 12-for-25 from inside the arc and 12-for-25 outside the arc ... Olaf Schaftenaar is 6-for-11 from beyond the arc in the past three games ... Drew Eubanks has multiple blocked shots in five consecutive games … Noah Togiai was added to the roster on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
FAR WEST CLASSIC HISTORY: The Far West Classic began in 1956 when the Beavers hosted three teams at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis. After three years as a four-team tournament, the event expanded to eight teams in 1959 with Oregon as a co-host. When Memorial Coliseum opened in Portland in 1960, the Far West Classic moved there and quickly became one of the best holiday basketball tournaments in the country.
The last eight-team tournament was held in 1989 and returned as a two-night, four-team tourney in 1991. The final Far West Classic was held in 1996. Oregon State won the first 10 Far West Classics and a tournament record 20 overall. Gary Payton, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, was named the Most Valuable Player a record three times.
Other well-known players and coaches who participated in the Far West Classic include: Danny Ainge (BYU), Mel Counts (Oregon State), Walter Davis (North Carolina), Dale Ellis (Tennessee), Slats Gill (Oregon State), A.C. Green (Oregon State), Jud Heathcote (Michigan State), Lionel Hollins (Arizona State), Kevin Johnson (California), Magic Johnson (Michigan State), Steve Johnson (Oregon State), Bobby Knight (Indiana), George McGinnis (Indiana), Ralph Miller (Oregon State), Mark Radford, (Oregon State), Cazzie Russell (Michigan), Charlie Scott (North Carolina), Charlie Sitton (Oregon State), Dean Smith (North Carolina) and John Stockton (Gonzaga).
FAR WEST CLASSIC PARTNERS: Thanks to the 2015 Far West Classic Invite media and community partners: Comcast SportsNet, Rip City Radio featuring Bunker and Danforth, the Oregonian and Oregon Live, the Oregon Sports Authority and the Moda Center.
Click on the PDF in the Related Links box above for the full game notes.
