OSU Basketball Exhibition Game Preview: Pacific Boxers (Division III)

The Beavers and the Boxers will clash in an exhibition contest on Friday night.

By The_Coach Nov 3, 2017, 9:00am PDT

Pacific Boxers (0-0)

Head Coach: Jerod Gibson (Interim - 1st Season)
Last Season: 12-12 (6-10 in Northwest Conference)
Last Game Against D-I Opponent: 11/6/15 (97-70 Loss to Washington State)
School Location: Forest Grove, OR

The Skinny

Oregon State will unofficially kick-off their 2017-2018 basketball season on Friday night, when they take the floor for the first time at Gill Coliseum against the Pacific University of Oregon Boxers, a Division III team from Forest Grove, Oregon. The Boxers are coming off a 12-12 season under then-head coach Tim Cleary and will be heading into the 2017-2018 campaign under a new interim head coach in Jerod Gibson.

The match-up, which will be the first chance for Beaver Nation to see this year’s model of Oregon State, will feature the debut of a slightly reworked roster and much-heralded freshman class for Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle. Key new faces for the Beavers will include freshman four-star recruit Ethan Thompson, the younger brother of Beavers guard Stephen Thompson Jr. and son of assistant coach Stephen Thompson Sr., as well as fellow rookie Alfred Hollins and UMASS graduate transfer Seth Berger.

The contest should also mark the return of Oregon State forward Tres Tinkle to the mix, who played in just six games for the Beavers a season ago due to injury. However, it’s unknown how much Oregon State will use Tinkle in his first contest back on the floor. As for Pacific, the Boxers will come into this one as heavy underdogs, who will be hoping to serve as formidable opponents with Oregon State just one week away from the start of their season.

Players To Watch

Oregon State - Tres Tinkle (F): The 6’ 8”, 220-pound forward averaged 20.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest last season through six games before missing the rest of the campaign due to injury. With his versatile scoring ability, his prowess on the boards and his knack for getting to the free-throw stripe, even the rustiest version of Tres Tinkle should be too much for Pacific to handle.

Pacific - Nate Olowo (F): One of Tinkle’s adversaries in the Pacific frontcourt, Boxers’ forward Nate Olowo will anchor the team’s roster heading into the 2017-2018 season and should develop into the focal point of the team’s offense. With a 6’ 6”, 220-pound frame, the versatile talent averaged 11.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest a season ago, as well as chipping in 1.3 blocks a night as well.

Game Info

Date: Friday, November 4th

Time: 7:00 PM PT

Location: Gill Coliseum (Corvallis, OR)

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