Stanford Cardinal Ebuka Okorie (1) drives on Pitt Panthers guard DeMarco Minor (7) at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Wed Feb 25, 2026 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — Freshman Phenom Ebuka Okorie’s 34 points led his Stanford Cardinal 17-11. 6-9 ACC) to a hard fought victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers (10-18, 3-12 ACC) 75-67, in Atlantic Coast Conference action, on a Wednesday Afternoon on the Farm.

The visiting cats from the Steel City got the conference contest started with the first four points of the game, before Stanford could even activate the scoreboard.  Although the Panthers would be in the lead for more than 17 minutes, there was a very competitive exchange of being in front by both teams.  Eight lead changes took place within the first 20 minutes of the game, and only one time tied.

Pitt led by as many as seven points, while Stanford could only get in front by one point.  The Panthers shot %6% from the floor, and 38% from Three.  They shot a respectable 75% from the free throw line.  Stanford, on the other hand, was 48% from the floor, 57% beyond the arc, and perfect from the “charity stripe.”

With all the excitement and back and forth scoring, the felines from the Quaker State were able to hold on to a two-point lead at recess, 34-32.  Both teams had one player to reach double-figures in scoring.  Benny Gealer topped the Cardinal, with 10 points, while senior forward Cameron Corhen led the Panthers with 14 points and six rebounds.

In the second half, Stanford scored the first points, on Okorie free throws.  There would be more see/saw action in the final 20-minute block.  There were four more ties and seven more lead changes.  The Cardinal got out in front by as many as eight points late in the the half, and that was the final margin at the final horn.

However, before that was the outcome, Stanford had to withstand an 11-0 run by the Panthers.  They were able to perform an 11-1 run of their own to put them back in the driver’s seat.  During this frenetic stretch, Okorie exploded for 28 second half points, willing his team to victory.

Stanford managed to shoot at a higher clip from the field, and remained perfect from the free throw line.  Whereas, the Panthers shot significantly worse in the second stanza, as well as from the freebee zone.  The Cardinal’s defense can take some credit for those dismal numbers.

When the 40 minutes of gametime elapsed, the Cardinal responded from their previous loss and pulled out a gutsy victory at home by eight points, 75-67.

Okorie led all scorers with 34 points, six assists and six rebounds.  The aforementioned Gealer gave his team 12 points, while Aidan Cammann added 11.  Cameron Corhen topped the Panthers with 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists.  Barry Dunning  Jr. offered 19 points and five rebounds. and Nojus Indrusaitis put up 10 points for the cause.

Stanford will next be in action Saturday, February 28 inside Maples on Senior Day, hosting the SMU Mustangs at 3 PM PT on the ACC Network.  the Panthers traverse across the Bay to Berkeley to face Cal on the same date at 1 PM PT on the same network.