STANFORD, Calif. — In an intense matchup on Saturday evening, Maxime Raynaud scored 20 points and secured eight rebounds to guide Stanford to a narrow 66-61 victory over California.
The Cardinal maintained control for the majority of the game, building a comfortable lead of 17 points midway through the second half. However, a determined Cal side mounted a comeback, eventually tying the game at 61 with just 42 seconds remaining on the clock. Raynaud delivered crucial late-game performance by converting 3 of 4 free throws, while Oziyah Sellers added two more to clinch the win.
Raynaud’s impressive performance ties him with Adam Keefe for the Stanford single-season record with his 20th double-double performance of the season, previously achieved against N.C. State on February 8. In this game against the Bears, he went 5 of 16 from the field and 8 of 10 from the charity stripe.
Oziyah Sellers, despite having a challenging shooting night where he hit only 3 of 13 attempts, made all seven of his free throws and finished the game with an impactful 14 points for Stanford (17-10, 9-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference play).
On the other side, Jeremiah Wilkinson was instrumental for California (12-15, 5-11), scoring 13 of his 19 points in the second half. Additionally, Andrej Stojakovic contributed 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Stanford initially surged ahead with a 47-30 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the game. Shortly after, California ignited a 14-0 scoring run, narrowing the gap to 52-50 with less than six minutes remaining. Raynaud quickly countered, scoring the next six points for Stanford, but Cal responded again with an 11-3 run that brought the teams to a tie late in the game.
The night was also significant as Stanford celebrated the legacy of former head coach Mike Montgomery, who recorded an impressive 393-167 record over 18 seasons with the Cardinal, making him their winningest coach. Montgomery led the team to 16 postseason appearances, including a memorable run to the NCAA Final Four in 1998.
Looking ahead, California aims to snap a four-game losing streak as they prepare for a home game against SMU on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Stanford, boasting a strong 14-2 overall record and 7-1 in ACC action at home, will host Boston College on the same day.
