CORVALLIS - An ovation encircled Gill Coliseum late Friday night as a mass five-man substitution cleared the way for a lineup that included two Oregon State walk-ons.
Stephen Thompson Jr., Tres Tinkle and Ethan Thompson were among the group of five that simultaneously exited to cheers in the final minute of a 76-57 win over Colorado. The trio combined for 61 points and 14 of their team's 17 assists.
During a season in which Oregon State (9-4, 1-0 Pac-12) built a six-game win streak for the first time in 13 years, the team also dealt with a self-admitted tentativeness that stemmed from a previous year marred by 27 losses and only one win in conference play.