Oregon State faces tough challenge against No. 12 Gonzaga in WCC semifinal

Beavers look to pull off upset after emotional coaching change, while Bulldogs aim for 22nd tournament title

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Fourth-seeded Oregon State will take on top-seeded and No. 12-ranked Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference tournament semifinals on Monday night in Las Vegas. The Beavers reached the semis by edging fifth-seeded San Francisco, while the Bulldogs are seeking their 22nd tournament crown in the past 28 campaigns. Oregon State is leaving the WCC after this season to return to the Pac-12, and the team is playing under interim coach Wayne Tinkle following his dismissal on Feb. 26. Gonzaga big man Graham Ike, the WCC Player of the Year, has dominated the Beavers in recent matchups and will be a tough challenge for Oregon State to contain.

Why it matters

This semifinal matchup features two programs in transition, as both Oregon State and Gonzaga are departing the WCC for new conferences after this season. The Beavers are looking to send Tinkle out on a high note and pull off an upset against the heavily favored Bulldogs, who are aiming to add another WCC tournament title to their impressive resume before moving on.

The details

Oregon State reached the semifinals by edging San Francisco 78-77 on Sunday, overcoming a slow start and then holding off a late rally by the Dons. The Beavers will now face a tough challenge against Gonzaga, which went 16-2 in WCC play during the regular season. Bulldogs big man Graham Ike, the WCC Player of the Year, has dominated Oregon State in recent matchups, including a 35-point performance in the teams' only meeting this season.

  • Oregon State and Gonzaga will meet in the WCC tournament semifinals on Monday night in Las Vegas.
  • Gonzaga has won 11 of the last 13 WCC tournament titles, with the exceptions being Saint Mary's in 2019 and 2024.

The players

Graham Ike

The WCC Player of the Year, Ike averaged a conference-best 19.7 points per game and led the WCC with 56.4% shooting from the field. He has excelled in recent matchups against Oregon State, including a 35-point outing earlier this season.

Wayne Tinkle

The 12th-year Oregon State coach was dismissed on Feb. 26 but will remain the team's coach until the end of the season. He led the Beavers to the Elite Eight in 2021.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Try to dominate as much as I can. Rebound as much as I can. I don't know, man, I just love playing this game with great passion. Just trying to do all the little things to help us win.”

— Graham Ike (Field Level Media)

“It's about getting our guys more dialed into the game plan. He's really good.”

— Wayne Tinkle, Oregon State interim head coach (Field Level Media)

What’s next

The winner of the Oregon State-Gonzaga semifinal will advance to the WCC tournament championship game on Tuesday.

The takeaway

This matchup pits two programs in transition, as both Oregon State and Gonzaga are leaving the WCC after this season. The Beavers are looking to send interim coach Wayne Tinkle out on a high note, while the Bulldogs are aiming to add another WCC tournament title to their impressive resume before moving on to the Pac-12.