Stanford Cardinal MBB podcast with Michael Roberson: Cardinal host Merrimack Tuesday; Stanford has won eight of last ten

Stanford Cardinal Forward Maxime Raynaud acknowledges the crowd as he and the Cardinal took on the Cal Bears on Sat Dec 14, 2024 at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley (Stanford Cardinal photo)

Stanford Cardinal MBB podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 Last game for the Stanford Cardinal it was their first Big Game of the season battling the Cal Bears at Haas Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinal came away with a 89-81 win in a game they led for most of the way.

#2 Stanford is rolling they improved to 8-2 with the win and they had their way with Cal with five Cardinal finishing in double figures.

#3 The Cardinal Maxime Raynaud has been hard to stop, Raynaud has scored 20 points in his last seven games.

#4 Jaylen Blakes had six assists and two blocked shots. It should be also mentioned that Raynaud had a career best five blocked shots.

#5 Stanford gets back into action against the Merrimack Warriors on Tue Dec 17th a 7:00pm PST tip off at Maples Pavilion. The Warriors are third place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic and have won three in a row.

Join Michael Roberson for the Stanford Cardinal podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

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.