OSU Men’s Basketball Team Gets First Pac-12 Win

The Oregon State Men’s Basketball team ended 2021 on a high note with a win over the Utah Utes on Thursday, Dec. 30. The Beavs won 88-76 to get their third win on the season and first Pac-12 win (3-10, 1-2). This was also their second straight win. OSU only had nine eligible players for the game, with COVID and injuries taking its toll on the program. It should be noted that the NCAA requires a minimum of seven players to be eligible for a game.

Head Coach Wayne Tinkle spoke pridefully of his team after the game:

“Really proud of the guys, just you know under all the circumstances, the turn around after the break,  you know some of the stuff we’re dealing with health-wise as a team, to come out and put together that kind of performance, guys were really locked in offensively, shared the ball and just couldn’t be more proud”

All five of Oregon State’s starters had double digit points, with Junior Guard Jarod Lucas leading the way with 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal and zero personal fouls and turnovers. 

“It’s the reps, but also you know having some teammates that are really trusting me, and also having Coach Tinkle and the rest of the staff trust me…this summer I didn’t get as many opportunities as I would have liked being a little banged up for a couple weeks so now I’m kind of getting getting comfortable but a lot of that isn’t coming without my teammates and my coaching staff trusting me as well”

Jarod Lucas’s response after being asked about him improving his game from last season and from the first game this season.

Oregon State controlled the game wire to wire, and only found themselves trailing once, for 11 seconds when they were down 7-8 with 17:04 left in the first half. Junior Guard Dashawn Davis pulled OSU back ahead with a layup and they never looked back. Utah did get within one point multiple times, 24-23 with 10:47 left in the first, and again with 16:33 left in the second at 52-51.

Of the Beavers 88 points, 40 of them came in the paint, Tinkle creddited the play of the Guards along with his talented bigs:

“…the guards did a great job finishing the bigs and when we do that that’s when we shoot a pretty good percentage from three as well and so that inside out balance that wasn’t there earlier in the year, I think from the A and M (Texas A&M) game it’s been pretty good.” 

The only center OSU had eligible for this game was Roman Silva, the 7-1 Senior from Diamond Ranch High School in San Bernardino CA. Silva played for 25:44 and finished 6-8 from the field with 12 points total, six rebounds, and three blocks. 

Senior Forward Warith Alatishe had 16 points, five rebounds, and a team leading five steals, Junior Guard Dashawn Davis had 13 points, and led the team with eight assists, he also had five rebounds. Junior Guard Dexter Akannon had 10 points, and shot 80% from the field (4 for 5) and went two for two at the free throw line. Coming off the bench was Senior Forward Maurice Calloo with seven points and Freshman Forward Glenn Taylor Jr. with five points, and two rebounds. 

With his 116th win on Thursday, Wayne Tinkle is now the third winningest head coach in Oregon States history. Only legendary coaches Slats Gill (599), and Ralph Miller (359) sit above him.

The Beavers next take on Sacramento State on Monday, Jan. 3 at 3pm at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore.