Chasing Payton: 20 Points To Go For Tres Tinkle

While most of the focus in tonight’s contest between Oregon State and Oregon will center around the whole 354th meeting of these two programs, the individual story-line for star forward Tres Tinkle is seemingly impossible to ignore for anyone taking in the game at this point.

Heading into Thursday’s clash in Eugene, Tinkle sits just 20 points behind Gary Payton for the title of Oregon State’s all-time leading scorer, with a very realistic shot to break the record with another patented stand-out scoring performance.

Payton scored 2,172 points from 1987-1990 for the Beavers and the Hall of Fame point guard’s impressive record has stood for nearly 30 years. As Tinkle and his 2,152 career points continue to inch closer to Payton’s top-billing status, Tinkle passing Payton would also move him into 7th place all-time on the Pac-12 career scoring list, trailing former Stanford legend Adam Keefe, who tallied 2,319 points for the Cardinal from 1989 to 1992.

As the 6’ 8” forward’s career begins to wind down in Corvallis, the number of records that the son of head coach Wayne Tinkle owns in the Beavers record books may only continue to grow. Already, Tres Tinkle holds career marks at Oregon State for the all-time leader in made free-throws with 547 and consecutive games scoring in double-figures with 92. His place in the annals of Beavers basketball folklore could already be considered more than secure, scoring title in hand or not.

While both of the Tinkles’ thought-processes will try to remain on beating Oregon, it’s hard to ignore such a monumental feat that could headed the family’s way. Adding a win in the Civil War series against the Ducks would only be icing on the cake in the scenario.

Head coach Wayne Tinkle has already won three-straight against Oregon and is looking to sweep Dana Altman’s program for a second-straight season. Under Wayne’s tutelage, the Beavers are 5-6 overall against the Ducks.

Oregon State also holds a 190-163 advantage in the all-time series of the two programs, which ties them for the second-most all-time wins over another team with Pac-12 adversary Washington, who incidentally, has also knocked off Oregon 190 times.

The tip-off between Oregon State and Oregon is scheduled for 8 PM PT in Eugene and will be televised on ESPN2.