Jan. 20, 2001
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
STANFORD, Calif. - New Mexico's fast start turned into a fast exit fromMaples Pavilion once top-ranked Stanford changed defenses.
Casey Jacobsen scored 14 points and Ryan Mendez had 13 as Stanford beat NewMexico 75-44 Saturday to move within one victory of matching the best start inschool history.
The Cardinal (17-0) won handily while becoming the nation's only unbeatenDivision I team after No. 9 Georgetown's 70-66 loss to Pittsburgh earlierSaturday.
Still, both teams said a simple zone defense was all that Stanford needed toturn a competitive game into a laugher with impressive speed.
"That really didn't feel like a 30-point ballgame at all," Stanford coachMike Montgomery said. "New Mexico was even quicker and more aggressive than wethought they were going to be. I don't know if we've played a team that quick.Putting a zone in there helped us, because we got them out right of theirtempo."
The Cardinal can equal the 1997-98 team's school-record winning streak -also the school's top start to a season - with a victory at Washington onThursday.
In the first meeting between the schools since the 1974-75 season, NewMexico (12-3) was palpably excited to face the nation's No. 1 team. The Lobosdrove the lane with reckless abandon and played with defensive fire on the wayto a 24-23 lead with less than nine minutes left in the first half.
That's when Stanford put on the defensive clamps, using a 1-2-2 zone defensethat wouldn't allow New Mexico to penetrate the paint.
"We knew they were going to play zone against us, but I had not seen a1-2-2 on any of the tapes," New Mexico coach Fran Fraschilla said. "Thatthrew us out of it. They were worried about our penetration because we had beendriving the ball. The zone cut us off, and then we couldn't make a shot."
The Cardinal closed the first half on a 23-3 run and allowed the Lobos justone field goal in the final 9:24 before halftime. Mendez, Jacobsen and 7-footreserve center Curtis Borchardt hit 3-pointers as Stanford shot 56 percent inthe first half.
"They were playing with pride against us, (but) we took them out of theirgame when we put the zone in," Mendez said. "After that, they didn't take toomany of their good shots."
The Cardinal again had the remarkable offensive balance that's become theirtrademark, with eight players scoring at least five points. Stanford held NewMexico to 32 percent shooting, including 24 percent (7-of-29) in the secondhalf. The Lobos were 1-of-12 on 3-pointers.
Stanford could have attacked the smallish Lobos with height, but toweringtwins Jason and Jarron Collins were used sparingly and combined for just 15points and 11 rebounds. Instead, the Cardinal beat New Mexico at its own game -perimeter defensive pressure and proficient outside shooting.
Mendez, the Cardinal's senior swingman starter, was back on his game afterbattling the flu and scoring a total of just 15 points in Stanford's last threecontests. He hit two early 3-pointers and matched Jacobsen with 11 points byhalftime, while Mike McDonald also hit two 3-pointers and had seven assists.
"We're on a roll right now, and as long as we just stay focused and keepgetting better, we'll be in good shape," Mendez said.
Montgomery removed all of his starters midway through the second half, butthe Cardinal's reserves steadily increased the lead. Borchardt had seven ofStanford's 25 points from reserves.
"I know we have quality depth at every position," Borchardt said. "Itfeels good to me that we're in this position where anybody on the bench cancontribute."
Ruben Douglas had 12 points to lead the Lobos, who lost for just the secondtime in 13 games. Leading scorer Eric Chatfield got into early foul trouble andhad just 11 points, nearly eight below his average.
While his team played frenetic basketball in the opening minutes, Fraschillaworked the sideline with equal fervor, screaming after any remotelyquestionable call. He even tripped and fell to his knees as he ran to make yetanother protest in the first half.
But the Lobos quickly lost their edge. Senior Wayland White missed sixstraight free throws at one point, prompting the Stanford student section tochant, "Foul No. 4!" - White's uniform number.
Stanford improved to 34-1 against non-conference opponents at MaplesPavilion since the 1994-95 season. New Mexico, which beat then-No. 2 Arizona inTucson last season, fell to 1-2 in games against No. 1 teams.