STANFORD, Calif. — In a thrilling match on Saturday, Maxime Raynaud showcased his skill and athleticism by scoring 26 points, including a remarkable follow-up slam dunk in the final seconds, leading Stanford to a 73-68 victory over SMU.
The Mustangs managed a 13-0 scoring streak that allowed them to overcome a 10-point deficit, capturing a 60-57 advantage midway through the second half. However, after Chuck Harris scored with a jumper to give SMU a narrow 68-67 lead with 3:35 remaining, the Mustangs failed to convert their next four shots and suffered from a crucial turnover.
Benny Gealer and Oziyah Sellers added crucial baskets, propelling the Cardinal ahead 71-68 with just over two minutes left on the clock. With the shot clock winding down, Ryan Agarwal attempted a desperate 3-pointer for Stanford. The ball rebounded high off the rim, allowing Raynaud to swoop in unchallenged from beyond the arc, securing the decisive basket.
Gealer impressed with 17 points, hitting 5 of 6 three-point attempts for the Cardinal, who improved their record to 19-10 overall and 11-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Harris contributed 17 points for the Mustangs, who now stand at 21-8, 12-6 in conference play, with Kario Oquendo and Matt Cross adding 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Stanford displayed accuracy from beyond the arc, making 11 three-pointers, albeit just two shots from the free-throw line, whereas SMU capitalized on 16 of their 22 free-throw attempts.
The first half witnessed a competitive tug-of-war with six ties and seven lead changes before the Cardinal launched a 15-2 run, resulting in a 36-26 lead after a jumper from Sellers with a little over five minutes left. Gealer extended Stanford’s advantage to 43-30 with a clutch 3-pointer, although the Mustangs clawed back with a trio of three-pointers to narrow the gap to 45-39 by halftime.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will visit Notre Dame on Wednesday before wrapping up their regular season at No. 19 Louisville next Saturday. Meanwhile, SMU is set to conclude their season with home games against Syracuse on Tuesday and Florida State on Saturday.
