photo by gostanford.com: KZ Okpala (0) of the Stanford Cardinal drives the lane and the Cardinal scored 17 unanswered first half points and had a total of 23 points against UNC-Wilmington on Friday night

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, November 09, 2018

Stanford used a big first-half run to pull away from UNC-Wilmington early and defeat the Seahawks 72-59 Friday in non-conference men’s basketball in Wilmington, N.C.

Sophomore KZ Okpala led the Cardinal with 23 points, and Cormac Ryan added 14 points for Stanford (2-0). The Cardinal are logging significant frequent flyer miles. They traveled 2,500 miles to play UNCW and North Carolina, then fly back home for one game, then fly to the Bahamas for a Thanksgiving holiday tournament – the Battle 4 Atlantis.

After Stanford trailed by eight points early, the Cardinal scored 17 unanswered points in the first half and held the Seahawks without a field goal over the final 7 ½ minutes before halftime, leading 39-25.

The Cardinal built an 18-point lead in the second half, and UNCW never came closer than eight points.

Jeantal Cylla and Devontae Cacok each scored 14 points to lead the Seahawks (0-2). UNCW finished with 20 turnovers that the Cardinal converted into 26 points.

It was the first time UNCW hosted a power-conference opponent since Wake Forest of the ACC beat them in December 2009. Both teams are coached by former Kansas teammates – Stanford’s Jerod Haase and the Seahawks’ C.B. McGrath. UNCW will visit Stanford next season.

The Cardinal collected 15 steals, their best since getting 15 in January 2006 against Oregon State.

After Stanford practices in Wilmington on Saturday, the Cardinal travel to No. 8-North Carolina on Monday.