Beavs & Zags Play Thursday in Gill Coliseum

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State opens one of the toughest stretches of the 2025-26 conference slate on Thursday with a battle between the reigning conference tournament and regular season champions in the Beavs and Gonzaga.

The two teams played three times in 2024-25 with each winning on the other's home court in overtime by four points before the Beavers knocked off the Zags 63-61 in the conference tournament to take the season series.

GAME INFO – Gonzaga
Day: Thursday, January 22
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Gill Coliseum
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Beaver Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: oregonstate.statbroadcast.com
Game Notes: Click Here

STARTING FIVE

Thursday opens a defining stretch of the WCC schedule for Oregon State when the Beavs host Gonzaga for the first of three games in a five-game stretch between the league's reigning conference tournament and regular season champions (GU & UP)
The Beavers are coming off a split weekend in LA, falling to LMU before making a 14-point comeback in the game's final 13 minutes to knock off Pepperdine
Kennedie Shuler made all the key plays, finishing with 12p-6r-6a-3s-1b, her eighth game of the season with at least 10 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds (ranks 4th nationally)
Jenna Villa hit the game-winning and game-tying free throws as part of a 25-point effort - her third game with 25+ points this season - and the tying free throw came from an and-one opportunity where Shuler grabbed an offensive board and dished the assist
Lara Alonso finished with 10 points (8 in the comeback), 6 rebounds and 2 blocks

NOTHING EASY
Oregon State's defensive scheme is simple: Make other teams take shots they don't like taking. In a survey of anonymous coaches done by The Athletic, one said of Rueck's defense: "Whatever you're really good at, they're gonna take away. If you're good at ABC, you better come with DEF because they're not gonna give you ABC." The Beavers lead the WCC in FG% Defense (37.6%) and are only allowing teams to make 38.4% of their shots inside the arc. Don't count on getting to the line either, as the Beavs are second nationally in opponent free throw attempts per game at 9.4.

EXORCISING DEMONS FROM 2024-25
The early WCC slate set Oregon State up to pick up a few payback victories and the chance to win in buildings where they lost tight games in 2024-25. The Beavers opened league play with wins at USF (lost 52-50 in 24-25) and Saint Mary's (lost 69-66 after 17-point comeback by SMC) before blowing out Pacific, which swept the Beavs by a combined four points last year with both games in Stockton, and Washington State (swept OSU in 2024-25). This week brings a new opportunity for a payback win as Gonzaga's only win over the Beavs last season came in Gill Coliseum.

OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kennedie Shuler

Jenna Villa