The Stanford Cardinal go into a huddle as the Arizona State Sun Devils stay ahead of them at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto in Thu Feb 9, 2023 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (10-14, 4-9 Pac-12) could not bear the HEAT of the Arizona State Sun Devils (16-9, 7-7 Pac-12) and were uprooted at Maples Pavilion, 69-65.

The Cardinal was in front for nearly 16 of the 20-minute first half, on a 7-0 run and a 10-point advantage,

However, the Sun Devils kept pecking away, then took the lead at the 4:10 mark, and again two minutes later. Their streak was 9-0 and managed to briefly take a 5-point lead, but Stanford erased that deficit by the halftime horn with a 5-0 run. At the midway point, 33-33.

Each team had one player with 10 points. Stanford junior forward Brandon Angel and ASU’s junior guard DJ Horne accomplished the feat.

Stanford kept that momentum going into the second half with nine consecutive more and eventually increased the margin to 13 the first three and a half minutes of the stanza.

Arizona kept the contest competitive by knocking the lead down to single digits and continued to battle the home squad. Stanford was able to hold on to the lead late in the game until Horne drilled a Three (1:50), giving Arizona a two point gap (67-65), and completed a 15-point turnaround in the second half.

During that stretch of time, the Cardinal were scoreless for just over four minutes. Horne sealed the game with two free throws with 8 seconds left in the game; as the final buzzer sounded, the visitors were unruly hot guests and left the court with a 4-point comeback victory, 69-65.

The Cardinal had three players in double-figures: Spencer Jones led the team with 17 points on 5 3-pointers, Brandon Angel (13), and Harrison Ingram (12), 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Sun Devils presented four hoopers with double-digits: DJ Horne led all players with 18 points, sophomore guard and Sacramento native, Frankie Collins (15), and the senior Cambridge Brothers, Desmond Jr. (13) and Devan (10) & 10 rebounds.

Stanford will host #4 Arizona State Saturday February 11, while Arizona travels across the Bay to take on California on the same date.