Heading in to the season, the Oregon State Beavers basketball team stood in the shadow of their hot starting rival from down south, the Oregon Ducks. They stumbled through their preseason games, losing notably to Coppin State to start the year, all while watching Oregon surge in the national rankings, reaching as high as 10th in the country.
However, PAC-12 play seemed to bring Oregon back down to Earth, and Oregon State was no longer playing second fiddle.
The January 19th meeting of the two teams provided the exact kind of drama you’d expect out of the Civil War basketball matchup; which also happens to be the most played basketball rivalry in the country.
Up 7 at the half, Oregon State allowed the rival Ducks to get back in the game before ultimately holding them off down the stretch, winning by 8 points, and securing bragging rights for about a month.
The rivalry is renewed this weekend, and round two will take place at the still new Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene. Although Oregon State has historically had its hands full with the Ducks when playing in Eugene (maybe it’s the trees imprinted on the court?), the Ducks are losers of 8 of their last 10 games, and are trending in the wrong way this late in the season.
Holding a two game lead over the Ducks in the conference, Oregon State will look to rely heavily on its leading scorer, senior Roberto Nelson. Averaging 21.5 points per game on the season, and shooting a respectable 44%, Nelson will be looking to have a big game in what will be his last Civil War game as a Beaver.
Both Angus Brandt, and Devon Collier, also major contributors to the team, will be playing in their final Civil War games as well; that alone should be the motivation Oregon State needs to topple their rival yet again this year.
Not that it needs to be said but Oregon, obviously, won’t be going down without a fight, and will likely get their main source of production from Houston transfer Joseph Young. Young, a killer from beyond the three point line, will look to light up the stout Beaver defense in front of his home court fans. Last time the two teams met, Young was bottled up, managing only 5 points; Oregon State will surely revisit tape of that game to assure the same outcome.
With both teams playing for relative pride, and the momentum they both desperately need before the PAC-12 tournament, expect this weekend’s matchup to exciting from start to finish.
Tip off for this weekend’s clash is set for Noon PST and can be viewed on Fox Sports 1.
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