Jan. 11, 2001
STANFORD, Calif. - Oregon State's monotonous game plan worked wondersfor 20 minutes. That wasn't nearly long enough to beat top-ranked Stanford.
Casey Jacobsen hit four 3-pointers and scored 15 of his 19 points in thesecond half as the Cardinal managed one point in the first eight minutes, butcame alive in plenty of time to beat Oregon State 73-49 on Thursday night.
Reserve Julius Barnes had a career-high 15 points, and Jason Collins had 13in Stanford's first game since ascending to No. 1. In their Pac-10 home opener,the Cardinal (14-0, 3-0) remained undefeated - but the undermanned Beavers madeit as difficult as they could.
Oregon State (6-8, 0-2), which dressed just eight players for the game,opened the game in an excruciatingly slow offense while playing tough defense.The Beavers profoundly frustrated the overanxious Cardinal, who didn't scoreuntil Jacobsen made one free throw nearly five minutes in.
Barnes' jumper with 12 minutes left in the half was the Cardinal's firstfield goal. In between, Stanford made five turnovers, committed four fouls andstood around on defense as the Beavers used the full shot clock on nearly everypossession.
Stanford also held Oregon State scoreless for seven minutes at one point,but twins Jarron and Jason Collins both got in early foul trouble and spentmost of the first half on the bench as the Beavers clung to their lead. Barneshad 10 points in the first half, but his teammates went 3-for-13.
The Beavers even led in the final minute of the first half, but Stanfordopened the second half in an uncharacteristic full-court press. The defensiveexertion seemed to spark the Cardinal, who made runs of 11-2 and 11-3 in thesecond half led by a barrage of long 3-pointers from Jacobsen.
Adam Masten led the Beavers with 13 points, and Jason Heide added 10. OregonState forward Brian Jackson, one of just three Beavers taller than 6-foot-9,fouled out with 18:05 left, and Heide followed him in the closing minutes,leaving Oregon State with one player on its bench.
Barnes' performance was a welcome sign for Stanford after its bench was heldscoreless in a win over Arizona on Saturday. Curtis Borchardt, who missed bothof the Cardinal's road games in Arizona with an Achilles' tendon injury, hadsix points and five rebounds while playing strong defense inside.
After seeing Oregon State in pregame warmups, the Cardinal's student sectionbegan chanting "It's all over!" before the national anthem.
By halftime, the Stanford crowd had a new respect for the Beavers. WhenHeide limped off the court with an apparent ankle injury with two minutes left,the crowd gave him a loud ovation.
Stanford beat Oregon State for the eighth straight time at Maples Pavilion.
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer