Dec 16, 2001
By RICK EYMER
Associated Press Writer
STANFORD, Calif. - Curtis Borchardt took full advantage of his heightadvantage for No. 12 Stanford.
The 7-foot Borchardt scored a career-high 25 points to go with 14 reboundsas Stanford (4-1) shook off the rust of a two-week layoff to beat Long BeachState 94-77 Saturday night.
"I was working pretty hard, but I got some great passes over the top,"said Borchardt, 4 inches taller than his Long Beach State counterpart. "Theyhad to stop fronting me and I was able to get the ball pretty deep. When Iwasn't getting my shots, I was able to find the open man."
Casey Jacobsen added 23 points for Stanford, which hadn't played since an83-75 overtime loss to Texas on Dec. 1. Julius Barnes had 11.
Tony Darden scored 24 points to lead the 49ers, who dropped their secondstraight to a Pac-10 school and fourth overall. Travis Reed added 14 and RonJohnson 15 as Long Beach State (3-6) dropped to 0-4 on the road.
Stanford improved its home record to 36-1 over the last six years againstnon-conference opponents.
The Cardinal won their 21st straight over a Big West opponent, dating to the1977-78 season.
Stanford coach Mike Montgomery, who was named an assistant coach of the 2002U.S. World Championship team under Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl earlier inthe week, improved to 2-0 against his alma mater.
Borchardt, who's playing time has been limited the past two years because ofinjuries, recorded his 10th consecutive game of double figure rebounds datingto last year.
"He played very well," Long Beach State coach Wayne Morgan said. "Withhis size, strength and development as a player, it was very difficult."
After the 49ers drew to 47-46 early in the second half, Stanford scored 10straight points to take a 57-46 lead with 16:38 left.
Borchardt, who has four double-doubles in five games, blocked one of histhree shots to set up an easy basket for Justin Davis at the other end for thefinal two points of the run.
"We've got to get Curtis more involved," Montgomery said. "We knew hewould improve as time went on and that's starting to show up. He's gettingcomfortable."
The Cardinal, which made seven of its first eight shots of the second half,maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Stanford, which was 10-of-25 from the foul line in its loss to theLonghorns, made 10 of its first 14 free throws against Long Beach State.
Teyo Johnson, who also plays wide receiver on the Seattle Bowl-boundCardinal football team, saw his first basketball action of the season when heentered the game with 2:39 left in the first half. He missed his only shot.
Fans took up the cheer "Tey-O John-Son," when he was whistled into thecontest.
Stanford couldn't shake the 49ers in the first half. Ron Johnson's 3-pointergave the 49ers a 27-26 lead with 8:45 left in the first half and stayed withinfive points most of the way.
"That was our best 20 minutes of the season," Morgan said.
The Cardinal's biggest lead of the half was 46-41 after Barnes hit a jumperwith 45 seconds remaining.
Darden, who made six of his first eight shots, including 4-of-5 from longrange, hit a 3-pointer late in the half as Stanford took a 46-44 lead intointermission.