Nov. 24, 2007
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -- Anthony Goods broke out of an early season shooting slump with 15 points and Robin Lopez anchored a dominating defense that led Stanford to a 73-53 victory over Colorado State on Saturday night.
Goods, who was 2-for-16 in his previous two games, missed his first three shots for the Cardinal (6-1) before finally finding his stroke. He scored seven straight Stanford points during a 16-1 first-half run and added a pair of 3-pointers early in the second half as the Cardinal rolled to the easy victory. Goods made six of his final 10 shots on the night.
That offense was more than enough on a night Stanford excelled defensively. With his twin brother Brook Lopez academically ineligible for the first academic quarter, the job of defensive intimidator has fallen to Robin.
He delivered against the Rams (3-2), blocking three shots and altering many others as the Cardinal held Colorado State to 37 percent shooting for the game. One block against Stuart Creason was especially impressive, as Lopez swatted the ball a few rows into the seats.
Lopez even got into it on the offensive end, hitting his first career 3-pointer in the first half and a pretty bank shot early in the second to give the Cardinal a 42-18 lead. He finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Lawrence Hill added 15 points and eight rebounds.
After being knocked out of the Top 25 with a loss at Siena last weekend, Stanford responded with two straight home wins against Yale and Colorado State.
Willis Gardner scored 14 points and Marcus Walker added 13 to lead the Rams, who weren't able to get the deficit closer than 16 points in the second half.
Colorado State scored the first four and last four points of the first half. In between, it was all Cardinal. Stanford used runs of 17-2 and 16-1 to take a 34-15 lead at the half.
Lopez started the first run with the 3-pointer. Reserves Landry Fields and Kenny Brown added 3-pointers during the spurt.
Goods keyed the second run with three baskets, including a 3-pointer, and a perfect alley-oop pass to Lopez from a halfcourt set.
The Rams, playing their first game after winning the Top of the World Classic in Alaska last weekend, shot 7-for-27 in the opening half with nine turnovers. Colorado State plays its first home game of the season Wednesday night against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.