The Oregon State Beavers men's basketball program, established in 1901, is the intercollegiate men's basketball program of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The program will transition back to the Pac-12 Conference in the NCAA Division I in 2026–27. The team plays home games on campus at Gill Coliseum, and the current head coach is Justin Joyner.

Oregon State has won 14 conference championships and appeared in the NCAA tournament 18 times (three (1980–82) were later vacated by the NCAA). The Beavers have advanced to the Final Four twice (1949, 1963), and their most recent tournament appearance was in 2021, when they advanced to the Elite Eight after winning their first tournament games since 1982.

As of the 2023 season the Oregon State men's basketball holds the NCAA record for most games played against a single opponent with 362 games played against the Oregon Ducks men's basketball team and the NCAA record for 2nd most victories against a single opponent with 195 victories against the Ducks.

Conferences 1901–1908 Independent1908–1915 Northwest Conference (NWC)1915–1959 Pacific Coast Conference (PCC)1959–1964 Independent1964–2024; 2026–present Pac-12 Conference ^2024–2026 West Coast Conference ^ Pac-12's previous names: AAWU (1959–1968), Pacific-8 (1968–1978), and Pacific-10 (1978–2011)

Coaches The Oregon State men's basketball team has had 22 head coaches, with one interim (2008). Both Amory T. "Slats" Gill and Ralph Miller are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Craig Robinson, the coach preceding Wayne Tinkle, was hired by OSU in 2008 out of Brown University, where he had just coached the Bears to a school-record 19 wins. Robinson is the brother of United States first lady Michelle Obama, and the brother-in-law to United States President Barack Obama. The longest-tenured head coach was Slats Gill, who was the coach for 36 seasons, winning 599 games during his time at OSU. Wayne Tinkle, was hired by OSU in 2014 from the University of Montana – Missoula, where he coached the Montana Grizzlies to two Big Sky Conference championships and a school-record 25 wins. In March 2026, Oregon State dismissed Tinkle after 12 seasons and hired Justin Joyner as his successor. Joyner came to Oregon State after two seasons as an assistant coach at Michigan under Dusty May, helping the Wolverines win the 2026 NCAA championship, and previously served on Randy Bennett's staff at Saint Mary's, where the Gaels won multiple West Coast Conference titles.

J. B. Patterson19021–2.333J. W. Viggers19035–1.883W. O. Trine1904–190739–7.848Roy Heater19087–4.636E. D. Angell1909–191019–8.704Clifford Reed19113–5.375E. J. Stewart1912–191667–33.670Everett May191711–7.611Howard Ray191815–01.000Homer Woodson Hargiss1919–192010–25.286Dick Rutherford1921–192227–19.587Bob Hager1923–1928115–53.685Slats Gill1929–1964599–392.604Paul Valenti1965–197091–82.526Ralph Miller1971–1989359–186.659Jim Anderson1990–199579–90.467Eddie Payne1996–200052–88.371Ritchie McKay2001–200222–37.372Jay John2003–200872–97.426Kevin Mouton 20080–13.000Craig Robinson2008–201493–104.469Wayne Tinkle2014–2026140–177.442Justin Joyner2026–present0–0.000

History

1980–83 – Orange Express

The 1980–81 Oregon State men's basketball season was arguably one of the best yet most upsetting basketball seasons in Oregon State history. The team was referred to as the Orange Express and was led by Beaver legendary coach Ralph Miller. The Orange Express season was led by Beaver great, Steve Johnson, in his last year at OSU, and the Beavers were second in the final polls, released prior to the NCAA tournament. This was the first time in OSU history that the Beavers won at UCLA, and the Orange Express spent a school record eight weeks ranked first in at least one of the AP and Coaches Polls. At the end of the regular season, the Beavers were and entered the 48-team NCAA tournament as the top seed in the West region. They had a bye in the first round, but were upset in their opening game by #8 seed Kansas State 50–48 in the second round, at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. Miller was awarded UPI and AP Coach of the Year honors and Steve Johnson received All-American honors.

For three seasons beginning in 1980–81, OSU posted an overall record of , second only to DePaul's 79–6 record over the same seasons. The Beavers' record included a home record at Gill Coliseum, including a school best 24 consecutive home wins.

However, NCAA sanctions followed these standout teams. The NCAA found that many players, from 1979 to 1983 were involved in improper arrangements with outside representative related to the purchase of complimentary basketball tickets and the receipt of other prohibited benefits. The NCAA vacated appearances from the 1980, 1981, and 1982 tournaments.

Postseason

NCAA tournament results The Beavers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 18 times. Their combined record is 15–21. OSU had three NCAA Tournament appearances (1980, 1981 and 1982) vacated by the NCAA, resulting in 15 recognized appearances and an "official" NCAA Tournament record of 13–18. Their former 46-year drought between "official" tournament wins was the longest drought of any team from a major conference. 1947 Elite EightRegional 3rd Place OklahomaWyoming L 55–56W 63–46 1949 Elite EightFinal FourNational 3rd Place ArkansasOklahoma A&MIllinois W 56–38L 30–55L 53–57 1955 Round of 24Sweet SixteenElite Eight ByeSeattleSan Francisco  W 83–71L 56–57 1962 Round of 25Sweet SixteenElite Eight SeattlePepperdine#19 UCLA W 69–65 OTW 69–67L 69–88 1963 Round of 25Sweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourNational 3rd Place SeattleSan Francisco#4 Arizona State#1 Cincinnati#2 Duke W 70–66W 65–31W 83–65L 46–80L 63–85 1964 Round of 25 Seattle L 57–61 1966 Round of 22Sweet SixteenElite Eight ByeHoustonUtah  W 63–60L 64–70 1975 Round of 32Sweet SixteenRegional 3rd Place Middle Tennessee State#3 IndianaCentral Michigan W 78–67L 71–81L 87–88 1980* 2 W Round of 48Round of 32 Bye(10) Lamar  L 77–81* 1981* 1 W Round of 48Round of 32 Bye(8) Kansas State  L 48–50* 1982* 2 W Round of 48Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite Eight Bye(7) Pepperdine(3) #8 Idaho(1) #6 Georgetown  W 70–51*W 60–42*L 45–69* 1984 6 ME Round of 48 (11) West Virginia L 62–64 1985 10 S Round of 64 (7) Notre Dame L 70–79 1988 12 S Round of 64 (5) Louisville L 61–70 1989 6 W Round of 64 (11) Evansville L 90–94 OT 1990 5 W Round of 64 (12) Ball State L 53–54 2016 7 W Round of 64 (10) VCU L 67–75 2021 12 MW Round of 64Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite Eight (5) Tennessee(4) #11 Oklahoma State(8) #17 Loyola–Chicago(2) #6 Houston W 70–56W 80–70 W 65–58L 61–67

* Appearances and results from 1980, 1981, and 1982 were later vacated by the NCAA.

NIT results The Beavers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) four times, with a combined record of 3–4. 1979 First Round Nevada L 61–62 1983 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals IdahoNew OrleansFresno State W 77–59W 88–71L 67–76 1987 First RoundSecond Round New MexicoCalifornia W 85–82L 62–65 2005 Opening Round Cal State Fullerton L 83–85

CBI results The Beavers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) four times.Their combined record is 7–4, and they were the champions in 2009. 2009 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals–Game 1Finals–Game 2Finals–Game 3 HoustonVermontStanfordUTEPUTEPUTEP W 49–45W 71–70 OTW 66–63 OTW 75–69L 63–70W 81–73 2010 First Round Boston University L 78–96 2012 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Western IllinoisTCUWashington State W 80–59W 101–81L 55–72 2014 First Round Radford L 92–96

CBC results The Beavers have appeared in the College Basketball Crown (CBC) one time. Their record is 0-1. 2025 First Round UCF L 75–76

All-time record vs. Pac-12 opponents

OpponentWinsLossesPct.StreakArizona2372.242OSU 1Arizona St. 45 55.450ASU 1California6287.416Cal 1Colorado1121.343Colorado 2Oregon195172.534Oregon 7Stanford7373.500Stanford 3UCLA38100.275UCLA 6USC6473.467OSU 1Utah1720.459OSU 1Washington140163.462Washington 3Wash. St.176132.570OSU 1 Note all-time series includes non-conference matchups.

Rivalries Oregon Ducks — Oregon State's main rivalry (The Civil War) is with the Ducks. As of the 2023 season the Oregon State men's basketball holds the NCAA record for most games played against a single opponent with 362 games played against the Oregon Ducks men's basketball team and the NCAA record for 2nd most victories against a single opponent with 195 victories against the Ducks.

Washington Huskies — The Dog Fight is one of Oregon State's lesser-known rivalry games. As of 2023 they also have played rivals the Washington Huskies men's basketball 310 times (NCAA record 3rd most)

Washington State Cougars — The Land-Grant Rivalry as land-grant universities, WSU and OSU have a longtime regional rivalry. As of 2023 they also have played rivals the Washington State Cougars men's basketball 308 times (NCAA record 4th most) and have beaten the Cougars 176 times (NCAA record 6th most)

Arizona Wildcats – The Cat's Meow was coined during the 1980's Ralph Miller era when the Beavers would match-up against famed-coach Lute Olson's squad.

Notable players Oregon State has had 75 all-conference and 32 All-America selections, five Pac-10 Players of the Year, 42 players selected in the NBA draft, and 24 players that have gone on to play in the NBA. Additionally, OSU basketball alumni have 4 gold medals at the Olympics, including one by Lew Beck, who never played in the NBA. A total of 9 players have won 13 NBA titles, including three by A.C. Green, two by Brent Barry, two by Mel Counts, and one each by Red Rocha, Dave Gambee, Lonnie Shelton, Eric Moreland, Gary Payton and Gary Payton II .

NBA players

Brent Barry Vic Bartolome Corey Benjamin Ricky Berry Ray Blume Freddie Boyd Jay Carty Lester Conner Mel Counts Jared Cunningham Drew Eubanks Gary Freeman Dave Gambee A.C. Green Swede Halbrook Scott Haskin Jim Jarvis Omari Johnson Steve Johnson John Mandic Eric Moreland José Ortiz Gary Payton Gary Payton II Loy Petersen Mark Radford Red Rocha Lonnie Shelton Charlie Sitton Ethan Thompson Kylor Kelley

International league players

Stephen Thompson Jr. (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League

Retired numbers

Oregon State has retired the jersey numbers of five players: Oregon State Beavers retired numbers No.PlayerCareerNo. ret.Ref. 20 Gary Payton 1986–1990 1996 Oregon State History – Honors and awards 21 Mel Counts 1961–1964 1996 25 Ed Lewis 1930–1933 1999 Gary Horowitz, "Beaver Stood Tall: Ed Lewis, 1910–2006," Salem Statesman-Journal, January 31, 2006, pp. D1, D3. 33 Steve Johnson 1976–1981 1996 45 A.C. Green 1981–1985 1996

NCAA records The individual and team NCAA records below are current as of the end of the 2015–16 season.

Individual Records Field Goal Percentage (Single season) 1st – 74.6% — Steve Johnson, 1981 (235 of 315) 5th – 71.0% — Steve Johnson, 1980 (211 of 297) Field Goal Percentage (Career, min. 400 made and 4 made per game) 1st – 67.8% — Steve Johnson, 1976–81 (828 of 1,222) Field Goal Percentage (Single game, min. 12 field goals made) 1st (tie) – 100% Steve Johnson vs. Hawaii-Hilo (13 of 13), Dec. 5, 1979 Field Goal Percentage – Senior 1st – 74.6% — Steve Johnson, 1981 (235 of 315) Field Goal Percentage – Junior 1st – 71.0% — Steve Johnson, 1980 (211 of 297) Total Rebounds (Single game) 16th (tie) – 36 – Swede Halbrook vs. Idaho, Feb. 15, 1955 Assists (Career) 12th – 939 – Gary Payton, 1987–1990 Average Assists Per Game (Career, min. 550 assists) 9th – 7.82 – Gary Payton, 1987–1990 Steals (Career) 25th (tie) – 321 – Gary Payton, 1987–1990 Team Records Free-Throw Percentage (Single game, min. 30 free throws made) 16th (tie) – 30–31 vs. Memphis, Dec. 19, 1990 Steals (Single game) 22nd (tie) – 27 vs. Hawaii-Loa, Dec. 22, 1985 Field Goal Percentage (Season) 3rd – 56.4% – 1981 26th – 54.4% – 1980