Nov. 28, 2011
STANFORD, Calif.- Chasson Randle took it upon himself to start the game more aggressively. He has to like the outcome.
Randle and Josh Owens each scored 14 points in helping Stanford beat Pacific 79-37 on Monday night.
The 37 points allowed by Stanford were the fewest since a 59-35 rout of Oregon State on Jan. 21, 2010.
Stanford's 42-point victory margin represented its largest victory since a 92-49 ambush of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 21, 2010.
Aaron Bright had six assists for the Cardinal (6-1), which recorded the largest margin of victory against Pacific in 36 overall games.
Travis Fulton scored 13 points to pace the Tigers (2-3), who did not attempt a free throw in the contest and lost for the third time in four games. Pacific starters scored just eight points.
Randle scored 11 of his points in the first half, helping Stanford take a 38-23 halftime lead. He started sharp after going scoreless in the first half of his past three contests. He hit all four of his first-half shots, including three 3-pointers.
"He was ready for his opportunities," Stanford head coach Johnny Dawkins said of his freshman guard. "That's the important thing. He's still getting a feel for our system and it's up to us to keep encouraging him to do those things."
Fresh off a visit to Madison Square Garden, where the Cardinal reached the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off Classic, Stanford looked comfortable from the start and eventually built a 20-point advantage early in the second half.
"I think we hit our stride defensively," Dawkins said. "I hope we can continue to improve in that area."
Playing No. 4 Syracuse to a standstill for most of Friday night apparently gave the Cardinal confidence.
"We came out in practice and used that as motivation," Randle said. "Not to dwell on it, but it was a tough game to lose. We're just trying to get better every game."
Pacific has not beaten Stanford since the 1933-34 season and has dropped 16 straight in the series.
The Tigers returned two players from a team that finished 16-15 last year. Junior Jordan Tucker and sophomore Khalil Kelley combined for 39 points, the lowest returning scoring total in the nation.