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Gary Payton II joins his dad as only Oregon State players with triple-doubles

OSU vs Grambling mbx

AP Photo

AP

Entering Monday night, only one Oregon State basketball player had ever notched a triple-double.

It was Gary Payton, the program’s most famous, who had 20 points, 14 boards and 11 assists in a win over Portland in November of 1988.

26 years later, Payton’s son -- Gary Payton II, a junior college transfer on the Beavers -- became the second player in program history to do it, as he finished with 10 points, 12 boards and 10 assists, not to mention six steals, in a 71-43 win over Grambling State.

“It means a lot to me,” Payton II said. “I had a hint in the second half that I was close and I want to thank Coach Tinkle and my teammates for achieving such a special honor.”

“We can laugh about it.”

Here’s the most interesting part: Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle knew all about Payton II’s stat line and what it would mean for him to get the triple-double. With around five minutes left, Tinkle put Payton II back in the game to try and get him two more assists.

“I never want to embarrass an opponent, but this was such a special moment for GP,” Tinkle said. “I would have pulled him out of the game if it wasn’t for his father. This is something a father and son can share. The fact that it was a team statistic (assist) that he needed at the end, I was okay with it. I hope Coach (Shawn) Walker understands the moment.”