Jan. 6, 2005
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Ike Diogu scored 28 points and had 15 rebounds tolead Arizona State to a 81-69 victory Thursday night over Stanford, which isoff to its worst start in conference play in 20 years.
Steve Moore added 19 points for the Sun Devils (12-2, 1-1 Pac-10), who beatStanford for the first time in nearly seven years. Diogu, the nation'ssixth-leading scorer, recorded his eighth double-double in the past 11 games.He has reached double figures in scoring in all 73 games he's played.
Dan Grunfeld scored 24 points and Matt Haryasz added 12 lead theshort-handed Cardinal.
Stanford's already depleted bench got even thinner when junior point guardChris Hernandez was unable to start because of back spasms sustained duringshootaround. Hernandez has had back problems the past two years, and sat out aseason with a broken foot.
Tim Morris was declared academically ineligible on Tuesday, and forward EvanMoore left the team the same day to focus on football. The Cardinal had eightscholarship players available for the game.
The Sun Devils outscored Stanford 10-3 in the first four minutes of thesecond half to extend their lead to 49-34.
Arizona State, with Diogu helping control the boards, eventually led by asmany as 19.
Stanford closed to 68-57 on Nick Robinson's baseline jumper with 5:42 leftbut Diogu converted a three-point play 15 seconds later and the Cardinal nevergot any closer.
Diogu, who made his first six shots, sat out the final nine minutes of thefirst half after picking up his second foul. The Sun Devils extended their leadwhile he was on the bench. Allen Morill scored six points in place of Diogu tohelp Arizona State take a 39-31 halftime lead.