Oregon State Basketball Stuns Rival in Dramatic Pac-12 Upset—What This Win Means for March Madness

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State basketball fans have reason to believe the Beavers are turning the corner at a pivotal point in the 2025-26 season. Wayne Tinkle’s squad stunned San Diego 78-76 in overtime on Saturday, erasing a 10-point deficit in the final 1:45 before Johan Munch’s put-back and Josiah Lake II’s clutch three capped an 11-1 closing burst. Key take-aways that have Beaver Nation buzzing: • Momentum at .500 – The Beavers sit 12-12 overall and 5-6 in their first West Coast Conference campaign, yet back-to-back road wins at LMU and USD have vaulted them into the middle of the league standings. • Balanced scoring – Munch (15 pts, 9 reb), Lake II (12 pts, 8 ast) and sharpshooter Dez White (4-for-8 from deep) provide the three-level attack OSU lacked in December. • Defensive uptick – Oregon State forced 20 Torero turnovers and limited USD to 31 percent from beyond the arc, an encouraging sign before Wednesday’s showdown with Washington State. Gill Coliseum homecoming The Beavers host WSU on Feb. 4, a rematch of January’s 71-66 loss in Pullman. Slowing Cougar guard Eemeli Yalaho, fresh off a 26-point eruption, tops the scouting report. Protecting home court would push OSU above .500 for the first time since early November and keep an at-large NIT berth in play. Women’s program making headlines too Scott Rueck’s No. 19 Beaver women (17-5) visit Gonzaga on Thursday in Spokane, where sophomore guard Kennedie Shuler has emerged as an elite on-ball stopper and transition catalyst. Her rise, combined with returning All-Pac-12 forward Raegan Beers, has Oregon State eyeing its first Sweet 16 trip since 2021. Why it matters for Beaver Nation 1. Postseason implications – Three of OSU’s next four men’s games are in Corvallis; a 3-1 stretch likely secures a top-six WCC seed, avoiding the early-round gauntlet in Vegas. 2. Recruiting boost – Packed mid-week crowds against a regional rival showcase the renovated Gill experience to 2027 prospects visiting campus. 3. Brand visibility – With Pac-12 realignment chatter swirling, sustained success across both programs positions Oregon State as a must-watch property for future media partners. Up next • Men: Washington State at Oregon State – Wednesday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m. PT (Pac-12 Insider) • Women: Oregon State at Gonzaga – Thursday, Feb. 5, 6 p.m. PT (WCC Network) Searches for “Oregon State basketball schedule,” “Beavers vs Washington State,” and “Kennedie Shuler defense” are climbing; expect traffic to spike again if the Beavs protect home court and the women upset Gonzaga.