Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2005
Amory "Slats" Gill led the 1954-55 men's basketball team to the Pacific Coast Conference title. The team ended the season with a 22-8 record and a 15-1 mark in Northern Division action.
The Orangemen, as they were known then, captured the Pacific Coast Conference title by beating Southern Division champion No. 9 UCLA twice. Oregon State played in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the history of the program and advanced to the West Regional championship game against the Bill Russell led San Francisco Dons. The Orangemen defeated Seattle University in the team's first action of the tournament led by Swede Halbrook's 21 points and nine rebounds. The victory set up one of the biggest contests in the history of Gill Coliseum between No. 12 Oregon State and No. 1 San Francisco. The Dons, who earlier in the season beat the short-handed OSC squad by 26 points, won a classic 57-56 game for the berth into the NCAA Final Four – where they would win the national title. Gill Coliseum rocked for the 1954-55 season as three of the six biggest crowds in the history of the building witnessed the memorable season.
Oregon State swept four-game league series' with Oregon, Washington and Idaho, and won three of four vs. Washington State. Halbrook earned postseason honors as an All-American, All-Pacific Coast Conference and All-Northern Division.
Tony Vlastelica earned Honorable Mention All-American. Jay Dean and Vlastelica were named second team on the All-Northern Division squad, and Reggie Halligan earned Honorable Mention. The remaining members of the team roster included Jimmy Jarboe, Tex Whitemen, Bob Allord, Ron Fundingsland, Ron Robins, Larry Paulus, Phil Shadoin, Bill Toole, Ralph Carroll, Bob Sutton, Dick Wilson, Gary Babcock, Ron Johnson (mgr.), Paul Valenti (asst. coach), Bill Robertson (trainer) and Waldo Ball (physician).
