In a thrilling encounter on Saturday, Stanford triumphed over California with an 89-81 victory, marking the first game of the Atlantic Coast Conference for these former Pac-12 teams. Jaylen Blakes and Maxime Raynaud shone for the Cardinal, each contributing 20 points to lead the team to triumph.
Blakes showcased his shooting prowess, successfully converting 7 of 13 attempts and landing two shots from beyond the arc while also sinking all four free throw attempts. In addition to his scoring, he tallied six assists and registered two blocks. Raynaud was equally impressive, making 8 of 15 field goal attempts, including 4 of 6 from the three-point range, and he also blocked five shots during the game.
Supporting their efforts, Oziyah Seller scored 16 points, hitting three shots from long-range, while Ryan Agarwal and Chisom Okpara added 11 points each, helping Stanford secure the win.
On the other end, Andrej Stojakovic stood out for the Golden Bears, delivering a commendable performance with 25 points from 11-for-25 shooting. Jovan Blacksher Jr. contributed 14 points, while Mady Sissoko added 11 points and eight rebounds to the team’s effort. Joshua Ola-Joseph rounded out the scoring with nine points and eight rebounds.
Stanford dominated the first half, with Blakes scoring 14 points, Raynaud contributing 11, and Sellers adding 10 to help the team achieve a significant 47-31 lead by halftime. They shot an impressive 48.9% overall during the first half, converting 8 of 18 three-point attempts and making all eight of their free throw attempts. In contrast, California struggled, managing only 37.5% from the field and failing to make any of their six three-point attempts. Stojakovic managed to chip in 10 points for the Golden Bears before halftime.
In the final stretch, California narrowed the gap to 83-77 with a three-pointer from Stojakovic with 1:21 left on the clock. Although they trailed by only six after Stojakovic’s dunk with 32 seconds remaining, they were unable to close the gap further.
Looking ahead, California is set to host Cornell on Tuesday, while Stanford will take a break before facing Merrimack on December 17.
