Oregon State
14-5,4-2WCC
Gonzaga
14-5,5-1WCC
Beavers Head to San Francisco Saturday
January 17, 2025 | Men's Basketball
THE GAME: Oregon State will head to San Francisco Saturday in the Bay Area.
TELEVISION: The game will be televised on ESPN+
RADIO: The game will air live on Beaver Sports Radio Network with Mike Parker calling the action.
LIVE STATS: Live stats will be available at this link
QUICKLY: Saturday will mark the 11th all-time meeting between Oregon State and San Francisco ... The Beavers and Dons last met in the 1968-69 season ... The two sides have met in the NCAA Tournament twice - in 1955 and 1963 .... Oregon State has had the same starting five in 14-straight games, and is one of 14 Division I teams with an active streak of 14+ games with the same starters ... The Beavers are coming off an overtime victory over No. 16 Gonzaga, in front of a sold out crowd at Gill Coliseum ... Two of Oregon State's last three games have gone to overtime ... OSU is shooting 54 percent from the floor over its last four games ... The Beavers are 33rd in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 64.6 points per game ... Oregon State is on pace for it's best season in defensive points per game since the 2014-15 team allowed 59.2 points per contest ... OSU has held 11 of its 19 opponents below 38 percent shooting from the floor, and has allowed over 65 points just seven times ... The Beavers have held their last four opponents to a combined 27-for-95 shooting from 3-point range ... Oregon State has shot 40 percent or better from 3-point range in five-straight games ... Michael Rataj and Damarco Minor are both in the top six in the WCC in steals per game ... Oregon State has shot 45 percent or better from the floor 13 times this season ... Oregon State's average margin of victory in its 12 wins is 21.4 ... Three of the Beavers' losses this year (Oregon, North Texas and Santa Clara) were decided by three points or fewer ... Michael Rataj is top-six in the WCC in points per game, rebounds per game, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and steals per game
THE TEAM: Here are some quick-hitters about the 2024-25 Oregon State men's basketball team:
- The Beavers' team features nine international players, representing eight different countries (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Lithuania, Turkey, United Kingdom). Counting the USA, Oregon State's nine nations represented is the second most of any Division I men's basketball team trailing only UT Martin with 12.
- The Oregon State men's basketball squad is one of 10 OSU programs slated to compete in the West Coast Conference beginning in the fall of 2024 as part of the two-year conference affiliation agreement announced on Dec. 22.
- The 2024-25 WCC schedule will see the Beavers face some foes they have not often seen during their history. The following is Oregon State's total games played against each WCC opponent (excluding Washington State) along with the last season the two teams met. Portland - 71 meetings, last in 2020-21; Gonzaga - 27 meetings, last in 1991-92; Santa Clara - 10 meetings, last in 1997-98; San Francisco - 10 meetings, last in 1968-69; Pepperdine - 5 meetings, last in 2018-19; LMU - 5 meetings, last in 2017-18; Saint Mary's 4 meetings, last in 1968-69; San Diego - 3 meetings, last in 2012-13; Pacific - 3 meetings, last in 1994-95.
- The Oregon State men's basketball program received a $1.5 million endowment from Joth Ricci and his family, part of a $3 million gift to the Beavers' men's and women's basketball programs. Ricci, known for leadership roles with Dutch Bros, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Adelsheim Vineyards, Jones Soda and, most recently, Burgerville, is a 1990 Oregon State graduate now serving as executive in residence for the College of Business.
THURSDAY VS. GONZAGA:
- The game was played before a sold-out crowd of 9,301 - the fifth sell out of the Wayne Tinkle era
- Michael Rataj set a career-high with 29 points, including 10 in overtime
- Five Beavers finished in double-figures.
