Stanford Cardinal had their way against the Arizona Wildcats with a three point victory at Kaiser Permanente Arena on Sat Dec 19, 2020 (gostanford.com photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, December 19, 2020

Stanford won its home-away-from-home Pac-12 men’s basketball contest 78-75 over Arizona on Saturday. The game was played in Santa Cruz at Kaiser Permanente Arena, the home of the Golden State Warriors’ G-League team – seating capacity of 2,500.

This was the first time a Wildcat team coached by Sean Miller ever lost to Stanford, snapping a 19-game Stanford losing streak to the U of A and a 20-game losing streak overall.

It was the Cardinal’s first win over Arizona since Jan. 4, 2009.

Arizona (5-1) lost despite an outstanding night for Jemarl Baker, who scored 29 points, including 8 of 13 3-pointers – seven of them in the second half.

Stanford (4-2) led 30-23 at halftime while holding the Wildcats to under 30 percent shooting. U of A cut the Cardinal’s lead to 41-40 on a three-point play by Azuolas Tubelis with 13:51 to play in the second half.

But Ziaire Williams with a three-point play and Jordan Brown canned a 3-pointer for Stanford to stop the U of A rally. A Noah Taitz 3-pointer put the Cardinal up 59-53 with eight minutes left.

Arizona pulled to within 68-66 on a 3 by Baker and an Ira Lee basket at the 4-minute mark. The Wildcats took a 69-68 lead on Baker’s sixth 3. Oscar da Silva made a pair of technical free throws after a foul by Christin Koloko.

Arizona regained the lead at 72-70 on Baker’s seventh trey before Spencer Jones hit a pair of 3s that gave Stanford a 76-72 lead. Baker’s eighth 3 made it 76-75.

An offensive foul and two missed free throws by Akinjo over the final seven seconds allowed Stanford to maintain its lead. Da Silva a pair of free throws in the final five seconds.

Da Silva led the Cardinal with 21 points.

The game was played in Santa Cruz due to a Santa Clara County health order prohibiting games or practices at all levels until Monday.