STANFORD, Calif. — Maxime Raynaud made a significant impact in the second half, contributing 13 of his total 19 points, as Stanford defeated Virginia Tech 70-59 in their inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference matchup at Maples Pavilion Wednesday evening.

The Cardinal initially took the lead with a jumper from Jaylen Blakes just two minutes into the game, establishing a 4-2 advantage. However, Stanford hit a scoring dry spell lasting nine minutes, falling behind 16-6 during this stretch. They finally reached double digits when Oziyah Sellers completed a three-point play with 6:22 remaining in the half, pulling the Cardinal closer at 19-12. Sellers then added two 3-pointers in the last two minutes, narrowing the gap to 30-25 by halftime.

In the second half, Raynaud struck early with back-to-back 3-pointers, bringing Stanford within one point at 34-33. A layup from Raynaud at the 15:15 mark allowed Stanford to take the lead, 39-38. He was particularly effective in the latter half, netting three 3-pointers and ultimately scoring 13 points during this period.

Raynaud finished the night with an 8-for-17 shooting performance from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, and also grabbed a remarkable 14 rebounds, marking his 12th double-double. Oziyah Sellers matched him with a strong scoring display, going 4-for-7 from three to finish with 19 points. Jaylen Blakes also had a notable game, hitting 10 of 12 free throws for a total of 17 points. Stanford improved their shooting in the second half, making 13 of 26 attempts, including 6 of 13 from beyond the arc.

For Virginia Tech, Ben Burnham led the scoring effort with 18 points, sinking 4 of 5 from three-point territory. Tobi Lowal contributed with 15 points, while Mylyjael Poteat added another 12 for the Hokies.

This game marked the first encounter between these two teams since they played at the Las Vegas Shootout in 2005. Looking ahead, Stanford will host Virginia on Saturday, whereas Virginia Tech is set to visit California on the same day.