Tag: Diamond Head Classic

Cardinal holds off Liberty 79-76, will face Vandy for tourney title

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The Stanford Cardinal’s forward Spencer Jones (14) takes a jump shot against the Oregon Ducks in file photo. Jones and the Cardinal defeated the Liberty Flames at the Diamond Head Classic in the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu on Thu Dec 23, 2021 (Stanford Cardinal Athletics file photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Thursday, December 23, 2021

Thanks to the offensive spark provided by Spencer Jones and Brandon Angel, the Stanford Cardinal (8-4) advanced to the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic men’s basketball holiday tournament Thursday with a 79-76 victory over the Liberty Flames (8-5) at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.

Jones netted a career-best 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting and five 3-pointers, while Angel bagged 17 points – 10 of them coming in the final nine minutes. Their efforts offset a tournament record-tying 41 points by the Flames’ Darius McGhee.

McGhee, the 28th leading scorer in the nation, equaled the 41 points scored by Chase Fischer of Brigham Young in the 2015-16 season. He was 13-of-28 from the field against Stanford, including seven 3-pointers.

McGhee, the 28th leading scorer in the nation, equaled the 41 points scored by Chase Fischer of Brigham Young in the 2015-16 season. He was 13-of-28 from the field against Stanford, including seven 3-pointers.

No other player for Liberty (8-4) reached double-figures.

Other contributions for the Cardinal came from Michael O’Connell (eight assists, eight points), and Harrison Ingram (13 points, seven rebounds). Jones and Angel each grabbed six rebounds.

The Cardinal (8-4) led 76-67 with 41 seconds remaining in the second half when McGhee sank eight of the final 12 points. Stanford took a three-point lead with 6.8 seconds to play on a free throw by Angel.

Following a timeout, McGhee was fouled near midcourt and proceeded to make a pair of free throws with 4.3 seconds left. Harrison Ingram sank two free throws to help Stanford regain a three-point lead. On the Flames’ next possession, they were unable to get the ball to McGhee, while Keegan McDowell committed a turnover as time expired.

The Cardinal trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half before closing its deficit with a four-minute, 18-6 run, capped by O’Connell’s half-court 3 at the buzzer, tying the game at 36-all at halftime.

Stanford outrebounded the Flames 38-22.

The Cardinal will play Vanderbilt on Saturday for the tournament championship. The Commodores (8-4) edged Brigham Young 69-67 in the other semifinal.

Cardinal take 66-63 win over Wyoming in Hawaii tourney

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Wyoming Cowboys guard Kenny Foster (22) and Stanford Cardinal forward Brandon Angel (23) battle for the basketball at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu on Wed Dec 22, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Despite a late scare from Wyoming, Stanford held on and edged the Cowboys 66-63 Wednesday in the opening round of the Diamond Head Classic men’s basketball holiday tournament at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.

The Cardinal (7-4) play Liberty in Thursday’s second round, while Wyoming (9-2) faces Northern Iowa in the consolation bracket.

Jaiden Delaire led Stanford with 17 points, and Spencer Jones tossed in 15. Michael O’Connell added nine points and five assists. Delaire and Harrison Ingram each had seven rebounds.

Graham Ike netted a game-high 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for Wyoming, accounting for his fifth double-double of the season. Hunter Maldonado scored 18 points and Xavier DuSell added 13 for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys led briefly in the second half after forging a 7-0 run. A basket by Spencer Jones put the Cardinal ahead to stay with six minutes remaining, as he combined with O’Connell to score 11 of Stanford’s final 14 points.

Wyoming had a chance to tie the game with 32 seconds to play, but was unable to complete a three-point play. Later, the Cowboys missed a pair of 3-point attempts with 8.1 seconds to play as time ran out. Stanford, meanwhile, made 2 of 4 free throws in the final 26 seconds.

Neither team shot particularly well. The Cardinal hit 39 percent of their field goal attempts, while Wyoming hit 43 percent. The two teams combined for 9 of 45 behind the arc. Stanford, which outrebounded the Cowboys 41-35, led 35-30 at halftime.

Daniel Dullum is a Stanford Cardinal staff writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com