MBB Preview: Oregon State vs Portland

-Monday will mark the 72nd all-time meeting between the Beavers and Pilots, and the first since the 2020-21 season.

-Wayne Tinkle’s first road victory as a Beaver came against Portland, as the Oregon State won 65-58 in overtime in the seventh game of the 2014-15 season.

-This is the fourth time during Wayne Tinkle’s tenure that the Beavers have opened a season 10-3.

-The Beavers are among the nation’s leaders defensively, currently sitting: 12th in scoring defense (60.5) and 24th in Field Goal Percentage Defense (.368).

-Oregon State’s best full-season field goal percentage defense during the Wayne Tinkle era was 38.6 percent in 2014-15.

-OSU has held nine of its 13 opponents below 38 per- cent shooting from the floor, and has allowed over 65 points just three times.

–Michael Rataj and Damarco Minor are both tied for first in the WCC in steals per game at 2.15.

-Oregon State has shot 45 percent or better from the floor nine time this season.

-As a team, the Beavers are shooting 50.7 percent in the second half of games and 42.0 percent from 3-point range in the second half.

– Oregon State’s three losses this season have come by a total margin of 18 points. By contrast, Oregon State’s average margin of victory in its 10 wins is 21.9.

-Michael Rataj is top-12 in the WCC in points per game, rebounds per game, field goal percentage, blocks per game and steals per game.

-Rataj is one of 20 players in the nation with six or more double-doubles this season.

-Oregon State is 7-0 this season when turning the ball over fewer times than its opponent.

-Head coach Wayne Tinkle is looking for his 309th career win.