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Takeaways: still positives for Penn State basketball despite the loss to Oregon

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Takeaways: still positives for Penn State basketball despite the loss to Oregon


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Penn State basketball lost a game it should have won. That is where this conversation starts.

The Nittany Lions (12-5, 2-4 Big Ten) were up eight points on No. 15 Oregon with (15-2, 4-2) 5:41 left in the second half, but poor defensive execution allowed the Ducks to steal won on the road and win 82-81. Mike Rhoades didn’t mince words after the game either as he described the final stretch.

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“We choked down the stretch,” Rhoades said after the game, “We talked about being solid on defense and we weren’t – we gave up two 3-pointers. We talked about taking care of the basketball; we had two turnovers that led to baskets.

“Credit to Oregon. They did not falter down the stretch, and they’re really, really good. But that was a game we could have won but we didn’t.”

The optics also aren’t good seeing as Penn State has lost three conference games in a row after a promising start to the season.

Frustration is warranted and doubts are understandable. But there are some clear positives Penn State can take from the game against the Ducks and it can hopefully be the start of something better going forward.

No Ace up their sleeve: Nittany Lions make it work without Ace Baldwin

If any team had to go against a top-25 opponent without its best player, the odds would not be favorable, especially when that player is a ball-dominant facilitator like Baldwin, who missed the game while recovering from a back injury.

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But after struggling against Oregon’s defense in the first half, Penn State found its offensive rhythm in the second, outscoring the Ducks 47-41 over the final 20 minutes with more players being involved on a possession-by-possession basis. Don’t forget that Baldwin’s a near 14-point scorer in a game where his team lost by one. Even if he didn’t score like he usually does, the gravity would’ve helped immensely.

Also remember that Baldwin isn’t just an offensive hub, he’s also their best perimeter defender. Had he played Sunday afternoon, he likely draws the assignment on the red-hot Jackson Shelstad, who was Oregon’s leading scorer.

For his team to perform well without Baldwin, Rhoades has to feel confident about this group and how they’ll continue to grow with experience until they get Baldwin back.

Penn State’s 3-point shooting made a comeback

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If Penn State had shot the ball how it did the previous two games, there was no way the Nittany Lions would’ve managed to come back. But they shot 36% (7-for-19) on 3-pointers Sunday afternoon, the most since they made 11 against Coppin St. and the best percentage since they shot 39% against Rutgers in early December.

The team is best when it gets to the rim, but to continue doing that, they need spacing to open lanes for Nick Kern and Puff Johnson to drive, and for Yanic Konan Niederhauser to operate in the post. And it wasn’t as if Penn State was taking ill-advised shots; the open ones simply weren’t falling. Hopefully this is the game that gets the shooting back on track, because they need it.

Freddie Dilione V’s breakout game

Entering Sunday, Dilione averaged 11 points per game in Big Ten competition, and after he had a quiet six points against Illinois, it stood to reason that he would bounce back.

“He’s getting more mature,” Rhoades said about Dilione. “Freddie’s biggest thing is to just keep growing and maturing, understanding the game and being a student of the game. When you play and have coaches that are investing in you, what happens? You start having success.”

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It paid off in a big way as Dilione had a game-high 21 points on 4-for-6 shooting on 3-pointers. The sophomore guard downplayed his career-high because of the team result, but a performance like that has to give him confidence.

Moreover, he could possibly blossom into the secondary shooter Penn State needs opposite Zach Hicks. Does this mean Dilione will suddenly become a consistent 20-point scorer who shoots 66% from deep? Not at all, but another perimeter scoring threat who can realistically get into the mid-30s with his 3-point percentage would open up the offense for everyone.

The Nittany Lions need something positive to carry into their road game against Nationally-ranked Michigan State Wednesday night; they have that as they get deeper into conference play.



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Watch live: Lakeridge vs. Nelson in Oregon high school football 6A playoffs Round 2/state quarterfinals (11/14/2025)

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Watch live: Lakeridge vs. Nelson in Oregon high school football 6A playoffs Round 2/state quarterfinals (11/14/2025)


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The second-seeded Nelson Hawks (9-1) play host to the No. 10 Lakeridge Pacers (6-4) on Friday night in a 6A Oregon high school football playoffs Round 2/state quarterfinals matchup.

Coach Aaron Hazel’s Hawks are coming off a 35-12 first-round victory against West Salem. They are undefeated this season against Oregon opponents.

The Pacers, coached by Spencer Phillips, defeated Glencoe 35-21 in Round 1. Their record might be a bit misleading — they have four losses, but they were against the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 seeds in the bracket.

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Nelson defeated Lakeridge 26-21 on Aug. 29.

Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on Friday, November 14, with a live TV broadcast on NFHS Network.

• WATCH: Nelson vs. Lakeridge football is livestreaming on NFHS Network

High school sports on NFHS Network

Watch high school sports anywhere from wherever you are.

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How to watch Nelson vs. Lakeridge football livestream

What: The second-seeded Nelson Hawks play host to the No. 10 Lakeridge Pacers in a 6A Oregon high school football playoffs quarterfinal matchup.

When: Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on Friday, November 14.

Where: Nelson High School | Happy Valley, Oregon

Watch live: Watch Nelson vs. Lakeridge live on the NFHS Network

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Know the (possible) Oregon State football coaching candidate: Ed Orgeron

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Know the (possible) Oregon State football coaching candidate: Ed Orgeron


The Oregon State football coaching search is underway, and several names have been floated as potential candidates for the job. It is early in the process as the coaching carousel continues to spin across college football.

As the search rolls on, barring a major announcement or change in the search dynamics, The Oregonian/OregonLive will examine some of the potential candidates for OSU’s next head coach.

Next up is a national championship-winning coach who reportedly showed interest early on:

Ed Orgeron

Most recent job: HC, LSU

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Age: 64

Head coaching record: 67-47

Why it works

Coach O is a big name with an even bigger personality, and would bring a flurry of media attention to Oregon State (or “Orgeron State”). The branding and merchandise opportunities alone are immense, and the hire would put the Beavers in the national spotlight.

Orgeron’s tenure at LSU ended on a low note in 2021, but he won a national championship with the Tigers in 2019 while coaching one of the greatest college football teams ever. He would likely elevate Oregon State’s recruiting success significantly from where it is now.

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Entertainment factor and all the potential risks aside, this would be the kind of splash hire that injects some life into a downtrodden football program. At least temporarily. Fans have been all over this idea on social media.

Why it might not work

There is also a real chance hiring Orgeron would end up being a flash in the pan, or worse: a failed gimmick. Orgeron struggled through two straight .500 seasons before his dismissal at LSU and comes with some off-field baggage to answer for.

He’s also been out of coaching for four years. If he couldn’t make it work in the early days of NIL, at LSU of all places, who’s to say his name recognition alone is going to make up for the experience gap now? The last thing OSU needs is someone who doesn’t fully grasp the modern landscape, so the question would be whether Orgeron has both done his homework and can build a staff around him that makes up for potential shortcomings.

There is a fine line between an exciting risk and an off-the-rails sideshow. Other programs have sought the former and ended up with the latter (see: Arizona State under Herm Edwards). OSU is in a precarious place with its football program and has far less runway to recover from that level of possible failure.

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Is he interested in Oregon State?

It seems like he is, but things might have changed. Early on in the process, Orgeron was one of the first names we heard. Credible reports indicated he was interested in the OSU job and would take it if offered.

But better jobs have opened up since then, including at LSU, where Orgeron has since publicly stated he’d be glad to return. That doesn’t exactly scream “all in” on the Beavers.

Whether OSU is even interested in taking this gamble in the first place is another matter. But Beavers fans have to be wary of the possibility that Orgeron is simply desperate for a return to coaching and using their situation as a springboard.

Know the other (possible) candidates:

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Brent Vigen

Paul Chryst

Brennan Marion

JaMarcus Shephard

Kevin Cummings

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Nick Rolovich

Oregon State (2-8) at Tulsa (2-7)

  • When: Saturday, Nov. 15
  • Time: 10:00 a.m. PT
  • Where: H.A. Chapman Stadium — Tulsa, OK
  • TV Channel: None
  • Stream: ESPN+

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Is a secret ICE detention facility in the works for Newport? Clues reveal scope of Oregon coast federal project

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Is a secret ICE detention facility in the works for Newport? Clues reveal scope of Oregon coast federal project


State and federal lawmakers say they’ve been kept in the dark about a possible U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement facility at the Newport Municipal Airport — but emerging clues point to the project’s potential scale. 

Public job postings for “detention officers” based in Newport, a request for septic tank services and a bid to lease four vacant acres at the airport all suggest ICE is planning to build a detention facility, elected officials say. 

In a statement, Gov. Tina Kotek said the federal government “continues to refuse to share their plans” with her or the public. 

“While information is limited at this time, I oppose spending taxpayer dollars on an unwanted and unnecessary additional ICE detention facility in Newport, or any part of the state,” Kotek said. 

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On Wednesday, four members of Oregon’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem asking her to share the department’s plans and questioning the decision to move a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter stationed at Newport. 

The letter argues that establishing a detention facility in Newport would be “deeply misguided” and could disrupt the tourism and fishing industries that are so important to the city of 10,000. 

“ICE has already rounded up law-abiding members of our communities who present no threat to public safety, which has created fear among Oregon families,” says the letter, signed by Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle, all Democrats. 

ICE and the Coast Guard didn’t immediately respond to inquiries. 

Noem, as secretary of homeland security, controls the Coast Guard, which owns a helicopter base at the airport.

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State Rep. David Gomberg, a Democrat who represents the city, said a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, used for water rescues and other missions, was quietly redeployed to a different base, about 100 miles south of Newport, at the end of October. 

“They pulled the helicopter out without any notice just when the weather is turning bad and the crab season is beginning,” Gomberg said in an interview. “People will potentially die because of that decision.” 

Job postings first identified by Oregon Public Broadcasting show Asset Protection & Security Services, a Texas-based contractor, is looking to hire detention officers to “provide care, custody and control of those in ICE custody” in Newport. 

Other ads posted by Acuity International, a Virginia contractor, seek applicants for a variety of health-care jobs in Newport, including registered nurses, behavioral-health technicians and an infection-prevention officer. 

Dan Brammer, an Acuity employee, sent a request Monday to a Lincoln County septic company, saying that an unidentified “federal project” will require pumping services for 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of sewage a day, for as long as three years, according to screenshots reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive. 

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The request also sought pricing for portable toilets and handwashing stations. Brammer and the septic business owner, Angie Ware, declined to comment. 

Separate from the helicopter base, a Texas contractor known for being able to quickly set up military housing is looking to lease the four acres of vacant land, records show. 

Newport’s city council has made no decision regarding the request to lease the four acres of undeveloped land at the city-owned airport, which is located about three miles south of downtown, 

The seven-person council is set to discuss the issue at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday. 

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