Oregon State Returns To Action Against Loyola-Marymount

Loyola-Marymount (4-2) at Oregon St. (4-1) / Gill Coliseum, Corvallis, OR / 7 PM PST / Pac-12 Network / KEJO 1240 AM / KEX 1190 AM

Game Notes

After taking Thanksgiving and the following Civil War weekend off, the Oregon State mens' basketball team gets back in action tonight, hosting Loyola-Marymount of the West Coast Conference.

The game revives the series that has only 3 previous meetings, a 2 for 1 series in the late 1980s that became memorable because of the participants, and culminated in one of the classic contests in Oregon State basketball history.

Bill Sherwood led the 84-69 Beavers win over the Lions in 1987 at Gill with 26 points, and Eric Knox's 25 points led Oregon State to their 100-90 win in Marymount the following year. These wins came despite the late Hank Gathers scoring 23 points in the 1987 game, and a spectacular 34 point, 17 rebound effort the following year.

The final game of the 3 game series in 1989 was the one everyone remembers though. Bo Kimble out-dueled Gary Payton 53 points to 48, and that translated to the Lions edging the Beavers 117-113 in the highest scoring game in the long history of Gill Coliseum. It was also the only game that Oregon State lost at home that season. Both teams would go on to the NCAA tournament, but neither have returned since.

This year, Oregon State had gotten off to a 4-0 start before last Tuesday's visit by Valparaiso, when the Crusaders edged the Beavers 63-57.

Gary Payton II poured in a game high 25 points, and grabbed a team high 11 rebounds, but he was the only Beaver in double digits, and Valpo's balance and experience was slightly too much to overcome.

Speaking of the Paytons, if GP II can snag a steal tonight, he will tie his father's record of 37 consecutive games with at least one steal for the Beavers.

If GP II also gets some double digit scoring from some of the 5 freshmen, Stevie Thompson Jr, Tres Tinkle, Drew Eubanks, Derrick Bruce, and Gliforije Rakocevic, all of whom have been making regular contributions, it would really increase the chances for the Beavers.

The Lions come into Gill on a 3 game winning streak, which included an exciting 82-80 win in overtime over Cal-State Northridge last Wednesday, and a 73-60 road win at winless Southeast Missouri State last Saturday.

Balance is the key for Loyola, and it showed in last Saturday's win. Munis Tutu scored 13 points to lead the Lions, and David Humphries added 12, but Joshua Spiers, Adom Jacko and Steven Haney all had 10 points apiece as well. This with the Lions' leading scorer, Brandon Brown, who averages 15 points a game, held to barely half that, though 8 points was right in line with the overall balance to the scoring.

The Beavers will again be without both Jarmal Reid and Daniel Gomis tonight, though Reid is expected to return to practice after breaking his foot in the pre-season this week. Goims' return after breaking his hand won't come until later in the month.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com