Nov. 26, 2008
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -- Senior guard Anthony Goods is having a good time these days playing quicker under first-year coach Johnny Dawkins.
"It's a lot more fun playing at this higher tempo," Goods said after scoring 20 points in Stanford's 76-57 victory over Air Force on Wednesday night. "Pressing, something we just practiced last year, helps keep the intensity going."
Goods, who has never averaged more than 12.8 points a game over his first three seasons, has nearly doubled his shot attempts this season. In three games he's averaging 14 shots a game compared to 7.8 over his past three years.
Playing behind Brook and Robin Lopez, twins who are both now in the NBA, tended to limit Goods. He's taking on more responsibility and leadership these days and has flourished under Dawkins, the former longtime assistant coach at Duke.
"It's always good to have success and still have things to work on," Dawkins said. "It's something to build on."
Lawrence Hill added 18 points as the Cardinal (3-0) beat the Falcons for just the second time in their past five meetings. Josh Owens added 14 points.
"You don't forget the losses," Hill said of Air Force's 79-45 victory two years ago. "I remember there was no intensity that night."
Anwar Johnson scored a career-high 20 points for Air Force (3-2) in its first road game of the season. Matt Holland added 11 points.
Stanford made 14 of its first 21 shots (67 percent) and turned eight Falcons' turnovers into 16 points en route to a 51-29 halftime advantage.
"I thought the first six possessions were the key to the game," Falcons' coach Jeff Reynolds said. "They hit shots, they got to the ball, they hustled and set the tone right out of the box. We couldn't handle the pressure at first, but I thought we handled it better in the second half."
Stanford scored 24 of the game's first 30 points.
The Cardinal made all 10 of its free throws and has now sunk 69 of 88 foul shots overall, nearly 79 percent.
The Falcons never got closer than 14 points in the second half.
NOTES:
Stanford and Air Force are now knotted at six wins apiece in the all-time series. The Cardinal avenged a 79-45 loss to the Falcons in the last meeting between the two teams back on Nov. 15, 2006 in the CBE Classic held at Maples Pavilion.
Anthony Goods scored at least 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
Stanford finished 12-15 from beyond the arc and looked to threaten the single-game school record of 15 triples. Through the first 20 minutes, the Cardinal was 9-18 from long distance. Last year, Stanford knocked down 12 three-pointers in two different games.
Stanford tallied 50 points at halftime for the second straight game. The Cardinal led Cal State Northridge 52-42 at the break in its most recent contest.
The Cardinal finished 10-10 from the charity stripe, led by Josh Owens' 4-4 mark. Owens remains perfect on the year with a 14-14 mark from the foul line.
Stanford handed out 19 assists and committed just 13 turnovers. Conversely, Air Force was forced into 20 turnovers and dished out 12 assists.
Stanford was held to 35 rebounds or less for the third straight game, marking the first time that has happened since a three-game stretch last year (Feb. 24, Feb. 28, Mar. 1).
Stanford is averaging 84.7 points per game through three contests.
Andrew Henke entered the game as Air Force's leading scorer but was limited to just two points on 1-6 shooting in 27 minutes.