Category: NCAA

Pacific Tigers rallies back from 11 point lead and beats Long Beach State, 69-66

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Pacific Tiger #14 Isaac Jacks slams a putback from his teammate #6 Jayden Clayton with 17 minutes and 5 seconds left in the second half here at Alex g. Spanos Center. (Photo credit to Sports Radio Services Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific Tigers returned to the Alex G. Spanos Center for a non-conference matchup against Long Beach State. Tipoff was at 7 p.m. in Stockton – my hometown – making this a special night as I covered my first home sporting event.

One team looked to extend its early-season momentum, while the other opposing team just looked to get its first win under the bright lights in San Joaquin County. The Tigers relied on Elias Ralph after scoring 21 points in Pacific’s 78-77 loss to the Nevada Wolf Pack.

The starting lineup for the Pacific Tigers was: Justin Rochelin, Elias Ralph, Jaden Clayton, TJ Wainwright, and Isaac Jack. Leading the way in points per game is their senior forward, Elias Ralph, with 20.5, shooting 52% from the field.

Long Beach State started with: Isaiah Lewis, Leopold Levillain, Petar Majstorovic, Cole Farrel, and Gavin Sykes. Long Beach is still looking for its first win after being on the road for its first two games. With their most recent loss to Fresno State, 82-62.

The game began with intensity inside the Alex G. Spanos Center, with Pacific scoring first on a smooth mid-range jumper from Justin Rochelin to put the Tigers on the board. Long Beach State responded soon with a layup from Petar Majstorovic, setting an early back-and-forth pace.

The Beach made its presence known defensively, raising the intensity with upcourt man-to-man pressure and consistently pressuring Pacific’s guards on each inbound. Long Beach’s defensive intensity put the Tigers into challenging looks and contested shots, making it difficult for them to create a regular rhythm on offense.

Long Beach State led 15-11 with ten minutes left in the half, thanks in large part to Gavin Sykes, who scored 11 of the team’s 15 points in the first half. Sykes was also coming off the bench for Long Beach. Both teams shot less than 35% from the field and less than 16% from three-point range, but the few shots that fell early weighed heavily in what was shaping up to be a low-scoring, defensive first half.

Pacific’s shooting struggles continued throughout the first half. The Tigers went without a three-pointer until the last minute, shooting only 26.3% from the floor and 10% from beyond the arc while committing 11 turnovers against the Beach’s swarming defense. Long Beach’s length and athleticism blocked passing lanes, resulting in six steals, sparking transition opportunities and easy baskets.

Pacific finally broke through late with its first three-pointer of the night, but both teams struggled with cold shooting throughout — the Tigers went 1-for-9 from long, while Long Beach only converted one of six free throws.

Long Beach State led 30-25 at halftime. The Tigers were led by Elias Ralph, who had 7 points and 4 rebounds, while Long Beach was led by Shaquil Bender, who had 11 points and a steal, giving the Beach a small lead heading into the locker room.

Pacific came out of the break with renewed intensity on both ends of the floor. Forward Isaac Jack led the charge and quickly established his presence inside. Jack dominated the first three minutes of the half, grabbing rebounds and finishing through contact for six quick points.

Despite the Tigers’ strong start, Long Beach State responded with poise and precision. Gavin Sykes, who struggled in the first half, came alive in the early second half, scoring 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%), including 3-of-4 from deep after missing his only three-pointer earlier. Sykes’ performance allowed the Beach to expand their lead and keep control of the game.

As the second half went on, Pacific began to ramp up the intensity, attempting a determined rally. The Tigers’ big men dominated the paint, crashing the boards and attacking the hoop, forcing Long Beach to foul and sending Pacific to the free-throw line, where they began to capitalize.

The Tigers’ improved aggression paid off on the glass as well, as they outrebounded the Beach 33-26, gaining additional possessions and creating more scoring opportunities. Their hustling and inside presence helped trim Long Beach’s lead to two points, anticipating a chaotic finish with momentum shifting toward Pacific with seven minutes left of the game.

The final minute of the game was heated, coming down to the last second. Gavin Sykes of Long Beach State was fouled on a three-point attempt and made a four-point play, cutting the Tigers’ lead to four points.

Pacific soon turned the ball over on the inbounds, allowing Long Beach to score a fast layup and narrow the game even further. On their following possession, the Tigers advanced the ball past half court and found Isaac Jack, who was fouled on a putback attempt. Jack hit one of two free throws to give Pacific a three-point lead.

Long Beach had a last chance for a fast three-pointer but was unable to get it in, securing the Tigers’ hard-fought victory. Despite a poor perimeter shooting performance, Pacific’s resilience, hustle, and determination in the paint drove the comeback. Long Beach had many players in double numbers, but it was unable to fend off the Tigers’ second-half surge.

Despite a difficult shooting night from beyond the arc, the Tigers found a way to win. Pacific shot 42.3% from the field and 15% from three, but their strength inside and on the boards carried the day. The Tigers scored 34 points in the paint, pulled down 42 boards, and added 31 points off the bench, showing that effort and inside scoring were crucial to their comeback.

Alexis Marmolejos led the way with 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting (57.1%), 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block, powering Pacific’s offense and defense. Isaac Jack scored 9 points and 4 rebounds in the paint, and Elias Ralph added 15 points and 9 rebounds to help secure the victory.

The Tigers will now turn their attention to the road, meeting Cal State University Fullerton (1-2) on November 15th, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., hoping to build on their grit and inside domination from this hard-fought victory.

CAL Berkeley off to 3-0 start after defeating CSU Fullerton, 93-65

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California Golden Bear Rytis Petraitis, takes it to the paint on an acrobat layup against, CSU Titan Landon Seaman. (Photo Credit to Sports Radio Services Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY, Calif. – The California Golden Bears entered Monday night’s game at Haas Pavilion looking to keep their undefeated streak going. The Bears entered 2-0 after a win over Wright State, while the Titans arrived following a 92-82 loss to Wyoming only two days earlier.

California used the same starting lineup of Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, John Camden, Chris Bell, and Lee Dort. Ames, who led the Golden Bears in scoring early this season with 20.5 points per game, continued to set the offensive tone as Cal worked to extend its unbeaten streak. Cal’s head coach, Mark Madsen, entered and left the game, recording his 100th career win as a head coach.

Cal State Fullerton’s starting lineup was Davis White, Joshua Ward, Bailey Nunn, Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro, and Kendrick De Luna. The Titans were coming off a 92-82 loss to Wyoming two days prior, with Bryce Cofield leading the way with 21 points. Although Cofield did not start in the matchup against Berkeley. The Titans are 0-2 all-time against Cal and have played them only on the road.

California took no time in setting the tone, coming out firing from beyond the arc. The Golden Bears took an early 12-7 lead over Cal State Fullerton by hitting four straight three-pointers. Dai Dai Ames caught fire right on, shooting three triples in the first three minutes, while John Camden added five points of his own to fuel Cal’s fast start.

Ames and Camden combined for all 19 of Cal’s points in the first 10 minutes, with Ames scoring 11 and Camden scoring eight, creating confidence across the Bears’ roster. Justin Pippen led the attack with four assists, while Lee Dort battled inside on the glass, allowing Cal to keep control.

In the closing ten minutes of the first half, both sides tightened up defensively, but Cal’s ball movement kept them efficient. Despite Fullerton’s pressure, the Bears shot 6-for-11 from three-point range (54.5 percent). The Titans relied on transition opportunities, with Joshua Ward scoring six points on fast breaks to close the gap to eight points at one point.

Bryce Cofield had a flagrant one penalty for an elbow during a drive, stopping Fullerton’s momentum. Cal missed four consecutive baskets in the final two minutes, but dominated the boards and maintained defensive discipline, securing a 42-27 halftime lead.

The Bears went into the locker room with Dai Dai Ames leading the way with 13 points, establishing the tone for the second half.

Cal State Fullerton came from the locker room with the same energy that California had displayed earlier in the game. The Titans went on a 6-0 run to start the half, hoping to reduce the Bears’ halftime lead.

Berkeley, on the other hand, responded fast, establishing a rhythm from the start. The Golden Bears connected on two more sets of three-pointers, slowing Fullerton’s momentum and regaining control of the game. Within the first three minutes, California led 50-38.

Cal ended up having a lead of 67-46 before the halfway point of the second half, thanks to hustle, defensive effort, and balanced scoring.

Dai Dai Ames led the way with 19 points, John Camden added 14, and Justin Pippen had 10 points and 5 assists. Lee Dort and Chris Bell controlled the boards, grabbing 7 and 5 rebounds, respectively, limiting Fullerton’s second-chance opportunities.

The last stretch showed which squad was determined to finish strong. California refused to let up, playing with intensity on both ends of the floor. The Golden Bears increased their lead to 29 points, capitalizing on Fullerton’s troubles from the field.

The Titans struggled to find their rhythm, ending their shooting 27-for-69 (39%), while Berkeley capitalized on turnovers and lack of effort. Chris Bell was especially good at clearing the glass and forcing turnovers while also contributing to the Bears’ scoring surge as the fourth player to reach double digits.

Ames’ three-point shooting was the night’s highlight, going 6-for-7 (85.7%), while Justin Pippen nearly had a triple-double with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, displaying his leadership on both sides of the court. Almost the whole starting five scored in double figures, showcasing Cal’s balanced and overpowering offensive performance.

With this dominant victory, the Golden Bears improved to 3-0 on the season while also marking Mark Madsen’s 100th career win as a head coach, a milestone in a program that is off to a good start. This is also Mark Madsen’s first 3-0 start at UC Berkeley.

The final attendance at Haas Pavilion was 2,377 as the Golden Bears secured a dominating home win. California now prepares for its first road game of the season, going to Manhattan, Kansas, to face Kansas State University (2-0).

Head coach Mark Madsen expressed excitement for the game during his post-game conference, stating he’s looking forward to “the battle and the test” and couldn’t wait to see what the Bears can do against a great Kansas State squad. The two teams will face off on Thursday, November 13, at 6:00 p.m.

With an outstanding 93-65 victory over Cal State Fullerton and a perfect 3-0 start, Berkeley will aim to create energy as they faces one of the premier Big 12 programs early in the season.

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum: Cardinal can’t get past UNC in 20-15 loss at Chapel Hill

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Stanford Cardinal running back Micah Ford (20) takes off against the UNC Tar Heels at Chapel Hill NC on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 The UNC Tar Heels (4-5) came up with a 20-15 win over the Stanford Cardinal (3-7) Saturday. The loss for the Cardinal was their third loss in row. This one coming at Chapel Hill in North Carolina.

#2 Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown making his first start of the season since taking over for benched quarterback Ben Gulbranson threw 27-39, 284 yards, and one touchdown.

#3 Brown couldn’t get any offense going in the first three quarters where the Cardinal were shutout in the first and third quarters of the game.

#4 In the fourth quarter with the Tar Heels ahead 10-3 the offense opened up a little bit as Stanford scored 12 points but the difference was North Carolina was able to counter with ten points in the fourth quarter to come away with the five point win.

#5 Next up for Stanford it’s the Big Game at Stanford Stadium on Sat Nov 22 against the Cal Bears. Cal played a very tight game against the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday that went into overtime. This could be another opponent that could give the Cardinal fits.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Cardinal podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tar Heels hold off late Cardinal fall, win 20-15

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Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown (2) is hit from behind and forced a fumble by UNC Tar Heels linebacker Andrew Simpson (2) in the first half at Chapel Hill NC on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

North Carolina held off a late Stanford rally on Saturday and defeated the Cardinal 20-15 in Atlantic Coast Conference football at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Stanford (3-7 overall, 2-5 ACC) lost despite outgaining the Tar Heels 320 total yards to 253 and holding the edge in time of possession – 32:37 to 27:23.

The Tar Heels (4-5 overall, 2-3 ACC) opened the scoring at 5:49 of the first quarter with a Rece Verhoff 27-yard field goal. Stanford tied the game at 3-3 on the final play of the first half, an Emmet Kenney field goal from 38 yards out.

UNC broke the deadlock at 7:43 of the third quarter when, on first down at the Cardinal 20-yard line, Gio Lopez completed a touchdown pass to Davion Gause, giving the Tar Heels a 10-3 lead.

Verhoff hit a field goal from 48 yards out at 4:16 of the fourth quarter, and Lopez completed a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Shipp, extending the Tar Heels lead to 20-3.

The Cardinal fought back, and with 8:28 remaining, Cole Tabb ran for a 1-yard touchdown, and with 1:48 to play, Elijah Brown, completed a 24-yard scoring pass to CJ Williams. The Cardinal failed to convert 2-point conversions.

Brown completed 27 of 39 passes for 284 yards, one touchdown. And was picked off once. He was also sacked nine times. Micah Ford was the Cardinal’s top rusher with 68 yards on 17 carries. Caden High caught 10 passes for 102 yards, and Williams and Sam Roush each made six receptions.

Lopez was 18 of 25 passing for 203 yards for UNC. He was sacked twice. As a team, the Tar Heels gained 50 yards on 27 attempts. Kobe Paysour caught six passes for 54 yards, and Shipp caught five for 83 yards and a touchdown.

The Cardinal have a bye week before hosting California in the 28th Big Game on Saturday, Nov. 22. Kickoff time has yet to be announced.

Air Force takes advantage of SJSU turnovers and run right through the Spartans for a 26-16 Victory

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Despite the San Jose State University Spartans hard efforts they fell ten points short for a win against the visiting Air Force Falcons at Spartan Stadium in San Jose on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (SJSU Spartans photo)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State turns the ball over three times in route to disappointing 26-16 loss to Air Force in conference battle. SJSU quarterbacks passed for 341 yards but did not pass for a touchdown as the lone endzone finder came via the struggling run game.

The Spartans kicked off a Mountain West matchup against Air Force Saturday afternoon at CEFCU Stadium. Coming in at 2-6 overall Air Force aimed for their second conference win of the season, while the Spartans hoped to shoot above .500 in conference play.

The SJSU defense provided the spark in the opening quarter with two three-and-out drives forced on the Air Force offense.

The Spartans’ first drive spanned nearly two minutes resulting in a Denis Lynch 31-yard field goal for the first score of the game. That was the only time the Spartans scored in the first half.

On State’s next drive, quarterback Walker Eget scrambled up field for 12 yards and a first down but took a hard hit on his way to the ground. Eget came out of the game for a few plays but luckily re-entered on the next drive. Eget threw two interceptions as part of the three SJSU turnovers which resulted in Air Force points.

The Falcons took a handle on the game in the second quarter outscoring the Spartans 16-0, including a safety on one of the wilder plays you’ll see, earning a commanding 16-3 lead going into halftime. Air Force totalled 94 offensive yards with only 11 passing yards as they ran the ball right through the SJSU defense on 24 total plays in the second quarter.

State answered back with another field goal in the third quarter before eventually scoring 10 in the fourth to make it somewhat close toward the end. Freshman, Steve Chavez-Soto rushed the only Spartan touchdown as part of his team-leading 49 rushing yards in the game.

Air Force matched the Spartans’ 10 point fourth quarter to come out on top with a 26-16 victory improving to 2-4 in the Mountain West Conference this year.

With no turnovers and a better run game, the Spartans most likely come out on top of this game. However, it’s onto the next for San Jose State as they head to Reno next week for a matchup against last place Nevada.

Cardinal put Grizzlies into hibernation 91-68, on Saturday Afternoon on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie (1) brings the ball up the floor against the Montana Grizzlies at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (2-0) held back the Montana Grizzlies (2-1) 91-68, inside the friendly confines of Maples Pavilion.

Stanford got off to a great start, with a 9-0 run from the opening tip-off. Freshman sensation Ebuka Okorie was the catalyst for the home team’s initial burst. He performed a steal, then converted that into a fastbreak layup, putting the Cardinal up 2-0.

Okorie would add another steal and six more points to his early production before the midway break in action. Stanford led by nine almost immediately, but the Grizzlies did claw their way back into contention.

As a matter of fact, Montana had a 5-0 run of their own, and had a chance to take their only lead with a layup attempt. Unfortunately for the visiting bears, a 5-point turnaround occurred. As the Cardinal defense caused a turnover, they parlayed that into a dagger 3 by senior guard Jeremy Dent-Smith.

The Grizzlies continued to fight back, despite that early setback. Although Stanford led by as many as 11 points, Montana was able to reduce the deficit to single digits several times. When the recess bell rang, the Cardinal was ahead by 10 points, 35-25.

Neither squad had a player in double-figures. Although Okorie’s 8 points and 2 steals were impressive for the Cardinal. Two players from Montana also amassed 8 points. Senior guard Te’Jon Sawyer tallied 8 points and 5 rebounds, while teammate and junior guard Brooklyn Hicks also chipped in his eight for good measure.

Stanford came out in the second half with vigor and an attitude to completely take over the contest. Multiple players from both sides achieved the 10+ points benchmark.

The Cardinal opened up a lead as high as late in the second half, but the Grizzlies kept competing. Although the game was out of hand, Montana did show effort, as they performed a 7-0 run in the last minutes of the game. Their field goal percentage from 2 & 3 was improved in the second half.

Stanford’s numbers were also better in the second stanza. Especially from beyond the arc. Although both teams rebounded at the same clip, turnovers were the determining factors. The Cardinal forced 20 turnovers, while committing 5 of their own. They also generated 14 steals and 6 blocks against their opponent. The +/- numbers were like a Math problem: Stanford (+23) compared to Montana’s (-23) .

With all the number crunching, Stanford managed to win by 23 points, 91-68. They lead from wire to wire, and had only one moment when that could have changed to a different scenario.

Four players for the Cardinal reached double-digits scoring. Freshman Phenom Ebuka Okorie led everyone with 29 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Senior guard Benny Gealer put up 13 points, while redshirt-sophomore Aidan Camman and senior AJ Rohosy both contributed 12 points.

Montana also presented four players 10+ points. Money Williams led with 19 points and 7 rebounds, and the other three, Brooklyn Hicks (13), Te’Jon Sawyer (12) and Kenyon Aguino (12) did their part.

Stanford will next be in action Wednesday, November 12 at Maples, hosting the Montana State Bobcats at 7 PM PT on ACC Extra. Montana heads down to Sin City to take on UNLV Tuesday, November 11 at 7 PM PT.

Cal withstands late Wright State push for 77-67 home win

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Cal Bears guard Dai Dai Ames (7) drives past Wright State’s Kellen Pickett (4) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Thu Nov 6, 2025 (Cal Bears photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

BERKELEY, Calif. — California (2-0) men’s basketball secured its second home victory of the season Wednesday night, defeating Wright State Raiders (1-1) 77–67 at Haas Pavilion. The Bears used an early second-half surge and steady free-throw shooting to fend off a late rally from the Raiders.

After a slow offensive start from both sides with Cal shooting 4-for-12 and Wright State 4-for-11 from the field early, the Bears built momentum behind second chance points and dominance at the free throw line. Cal finished the first half shooting 13 for 34 overall but made up ground by converting 13 free throws.

Wright State, meanwhile, struggled from the line, going just 4 for 8, but found more success from deep, connecting on four of 16 three-pointers to stay within reach. Neither team managed to create much separation through the opening 20 minutes, with Cal holding a slim 34–28 halftime advantage.

John Camden led the Bears with seven points at the break, while Wright State’s Michael Cooper matched that total to lead the Raiders.

Cal came out firing in the second half, pushing its lead to double digits with a 12 point margin midway through the half. The Bears played with rhythm and confidence, feeding off an energized Haas Pavilion crowd. Sophomore guard Dai Dai Ames took control down the stretch, finishing with a game high 23 points.

Despite trailing by as many as 16, Wright State refused to fold, closing the gap to four with under five minutes to play. But Cal’s composure and efficiency from the line sealed the victory — the Bears shot 26 for 31 (83.9%) from the stripe compared to Wright State’s 10 for 18 (55.6%).

“We talked about ball control and not being passive,” Cal head coach Mark Madsen told Sports Radio Service after the game. “Against any zone defense, if you drive the zone, something good is going to happen. We have a lot of new players still getting comfortable in their roles, but I thought Nolan Dorsey really set the tone defensively and lifted the whole team.”

Cal out rebounded Wright State 43–35 and outscored the Raiders 34–22 in the paint. The Bears also held advantages in fast-break points (12–4) and defensive rebounds (33–24).

Wright State’s Dominic Pagonis led the Raiders with 11 points off the bench.

With the win, Cal improves to 2–0 and looks to carry its momentum into the next contest against Cal State Fullerton as it continues non conference play.

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips: Cal runs into hot Louisville; Cardinals have won 5 of last 6 games; Cal has lost four last six games

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Cal Bears quarterback Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele is sacked by the Virginia Cavaliers defensive lineman Jacob Holmes (23) at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Nov 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 How will freshman Cal Bears (5-4) quarterback Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele, who has thrown for over 200 yards in every game this season, adjust to facing the Louisville Cardinals (7-1) defense that ranks 11th nationally in yards allowed?

#2 With the Bears averaging just about 78.6 rushing yards per game (second-lowest among FBS teams), how critical will it be for running back Kendrick Raphael to break off big runs and relieve pressure on the passing game?

#3 On defense, Cal’s veteran linemen Aidan Keanaaina and T.J. Bollers have formed a strong front — how will they perform against Louisville’s run game, especially with the Cardinals dealing with backfield injuries.

#4 Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus leads Cal with 57 catches this season—is his connection with Sagapolutele their most viable path to moving the chains and keeping the Bears competitive in this matchup?

#5 Considering that Cal’s pass defense and secondary have been tested, how vital will it be for cornerback/safety combination including players like Austin career-high six pass breakups to lock down the Cardinals’ passing attack and limit big plays?

Morris Phillips is a Cal Bears beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: Can Brown get it done against UNC at Chapel Hill?

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Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown (2) has been named the starting quarterback and will be under center against the UNC Tar Heels in Chapel Hill NC on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (Sports Illustrated file photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 Stanford Cardinal (3-6) head coach Frank Reich has benched first string quarterback Ben Gulbranson after having the Cardinal have lost their last four games and replaced him with second stringer Elijah Brown who came in for Gulbranson in the Cardinal’s last game against the Pitt Panthers (7-2) last Sat Nov 1st as Pitt came away with a 35-20.

#2 The Cardinal are last of the 17 teams in the ACC in points per game with 17.8 and rank 16th in yards per game with at 307.1.

#3 Coach Reich mentioned that this was a tough decision and that Gulbranson had done some good things and that he doesn’t put all of the blame on Gulbranson but he said a change had to be made and this was the best decision for the team.

#4 Reich mentioned that Gulbranson has thrown ten interceptions and had completed only 56.9% of his passes for 1813 yards. Reich is looking for improvement in those numbers and hopes to get it from Brown.

#5 The Cardinal are at UNC to face head coach Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels. UNC snapped a four game losing streak with a win against the Syracuse Orange last Saturday 27-10. This one is one the road can Brown deliver against UNC this Saturday?

Michael Roberson does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Wednesday/Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cardinal staved off Vikings’ attack 89-79, on a Tuesday (Election) Night on the Farm

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Stanford Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie (1) drives the Portland State Vikings at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Tue Nov 4, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (1-0) opened up their 2025-26 Men’s Basketball season with a fortified blockade (Trees) against the Portland State Vikings (0-1), 89-79, inside Maples Pavilion.

Stanford scored the first points of the game, with a bucket by freshman guard Ebuka Okorie. However, both teams had significant runs in the first half.

The Vikings immediately went on an 8-0 run, putting them ahead by six, early in the contest. The Cardinal responded expeditiously with a 9-0 run of their own, putting themselves back on top. They also eventually led by six points.

As the first half progressed, Portland State continued to fight back, but could regain their last lead (8-7) during the first 20 minutes of play.. Although they did involve their squad in three first half ties with the home team.

By the time both combatants reached recess, Stanford had upped their lead to seven, 37-30. The Cardinal forced 13 turnovers on the Vikings, while they gave away six of their own.

Leading the way for Stanford was the aforementioned Okorie, with 16 points. No hooper from PSU eclipsed double-figures; however, their senior guard Jaylin Henderson was close with nine points at the half.

The second half started with another run. The Cardinal came out of the locker room on a mission. They scored seven straight points to begin stanza number two, while also doubling the lead from the first half. That was near their largest advantage (15) of the entire game in a matter of minutes..

Despite those significant leads by the Cardinal, the Vikings continued to grasp and close the double-digit margin before the final whistle. They chopped the lead into single digits several time, but could not get over the hump again, especially in the second half. Big shots by the Cardinal offense and their intense defense down the stretch sealed the contest in the closing minutes.

After the required 40 minutes elapsed, the Palo Alto Players bested the pillagers from the Beaver State by 10 points, 89-79.

Four baller scored over 10 points for the Cardinal, including the freshman sensation Ebuka Okorie, who led all scorers with 26 points and an impressive seven rebounds. Senior forward Chisom Okpara tallied 21 points, Sr. guard Jeremy Dent-Smith (14), and fellow senior guard Benny Gealer chipped in 12 points and garnered five steals.

PSU had three players reach that plateau. Junior guard Sebastian Tidor led the Vikings with 22 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Jaylin Henderson dropped 19 points and senior forward Terri Miller Jr, contributed 14 points and four assists.

The Cardinal will next be in action Saturday, November 8, @ Maples, hosting the Montana Grizzlies at 7 PM PT on ACC Extra. Portland State heads back to Oregon to host NW Indian College, Friday, ,November 7, also at 7 PM PT, but on ESPN+.