Canzano: Oregon State makes noise against Gonzaga
Beavers' upset victory shouldn't be ignored.
Joth Ricci slid into his seat on Thursday night at Gill Coliseum. The executive chairman of Burgerville made a $3 million donation to the Oregon State basketball program at the beginning of the season. Now, he was sitting, lower level, directly across from the Beavers’ bench, watching a fairy tale unfold.
Oregon State beat Gonzaga, 97-89, in overtime.
Fans spilled onto the floor, celebrating the upset victory. CBS Sports Network interviewed coach Wayne Tinkle while he performed the backstroke in a sea of jubilation. When Tinkle was asked to explain the victory, he pointed toward his players and said in a hoarse voice: “Go talk to them — they pulled it off.”
The last OSU basketball season ended in March in Las Vegas when the Beavers were eliminated from the conference tournament by UCLA. I stood down an arena hallway that night at T-Mobile Arena, talking with Jordon Pope, the team’s best player.