CORVALLIS, Ore. — In a thrilling overtime showdown, Michael Rataj scored a personal best of 29 points, leading Oregon State to a triumphant 97-89 victory over No. 16 Gonzaga on Thursday night.
The Beavers, currently sporting a record of 14-5 and holding a 4-2 mark in the West Coast Conference (WCC), enjoyed the advantage of a lively sellout audience at Gill Coliseum.
For Gonzaga, who fell to 14-5 and now have a 5-1 record in conference play, Graham Ike was a standout performer, racking up 26 points along with nine rebounds before being disqualified after fouling out in overtime, marking the end of their five-game winning streak.
In a closely contested match, Braden Huff managed to pull Gonzaga within 91-89 with 57 seconds remaining in the overtime period. However, Oregon State’s Liutauras Lelevicius quickly responded with a crucial layup. The Beavers sealed their win by converting free throws, prompting jubilant fans to rush onto the court in celebration.
The game remained competitive throughout. Oregon State tied the score at 77 following a jumper from Damarco Minor, before Rataj gave them the lead with his basket with 1:39 on the clock. Gonzaga’s Ben Gregg connected on a 3-pointer with just 21 seconds left, narrowing the gap to 81-80. After Lake converted at the charity stripe, Ike’s last-second 3-pointer sent the game into overtime, leveling the score at 83.
Key Insights: Gonzaga will face Oregon State for the current season and again next year in the WCC, prior to both programs transitioning alongside Washington State to join the revamped Pac-12 as non-football members in 2026.
A historical note—the last encounter between these teams took place during the 1991-92 season at the same venue, with Oregon State holding a remarkable 13-game winning streak against Gonzaga; the Bulldogs last secured a win over the Beavers in 1932.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Ike’s 3-pointer with only 4.2 seconds remaining in regulation was instrumental in driving the match into overtime, a notable feat considering he only made seven shots from beyond the arc throughout the previous season.
An interesting statistic: this loss ended Gonzaga’s impressive run of 11 consecutive victories in true road games.
Looking ahead, Gonzaga will host Santa Clara this coming Saturday, while Oregon State will travel to San Francisco for their next matchup.
