Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon State beat the University of Texas-El Paso, 81-73, Friday night to win the College Basketball Invitational.

The Beavers won two of three in the final series to finish with a record of 18 wins and 18 losses.

Ethan Lindsey reports.

The Beavers are college basketball champions.

Check that. They’re champions of the College Basketball Invitational.

Here’s the final call from the television channel HD-Net.

HD-Net: “The Beavers of Oregon State have won the College Basketball Invitational, with their road victory. And how proud is everybody in Corvallis Oregon.”

The CBI is something of a loser’s bracket for men’s college basketball teams.

And a final record of 18-and-18 is not normally something to write home about.

But it’s huge turnaround for the Beavers, and first-year head coach Craig Robinson.

Last year’s team finished with a 21-game losing streak.

The Beavers lose just three seniors to graduation, and many fans hope they’ll be even better next year.