Stanford Exits LA With SplitStanford Exits LA With Split
Men's Basketball

Stanford Exits LA With Split

LOS ANGELES- Chasson Randle scored seven of his team-high 17 points in overtime, powering Stanford past USC 79-71 on Sunday to earn a split of its SoCal road swing.

Josh Huestis added 16 points and Dwight Powell 14 for the Cardinal, which won for just the second time in its last 18 road games against UCLA and USC. The Cardinal lost 91-74 at UCLA on Thursday.

Stanford (13-6, 4-3 Pac-12) scored the first four points of overtime on a free throw by Anthony Brown and a three-pointer from Randle to go ahead for good. John Gage, who matched a season-high with 12 points off the bench, added four in a row to make it 71-64 with 2:26 left before the Cardinal sealed the game with free throws.

USC (10-10, 1-6 Pac-12) was led by Byron Wesley’s 18 points while three other players scored in double figures.

Huestis knocked down a three-pointer to put Stanford ahead 61-56 with 1:30 left in regulation, but USC tied the game with 21.6 seconds to play following a triple from Pe’Shon Howard and free throws from Wesley. The Trojans were then unable to capitalize on the final possession of regulation.

The teams finished the game shooting just over 40.0 percent despite lengthy dry spells throughout the game. Stanford was 9-23 from beyond the arc while USC converted 4-13.

Physical play dominated the contest, as the teams combined for 50 fouls, with Stanford whistled for 24. The Cardinal converted 20-28 from the foul line compared to the Trojans’ 19-30 clip. Frontcourt players on both sides were saddled with foul trouble throughout the game, with Powell and Stefan Nastic (nine points) fouling out for Stanford.

Stanford built a 32-28 halftime lead in first half that featured six ties and four lead changes before five points from Randle in the final two minutes erased a deficit.

USC ripped off eight unanswered points in the first three minutes of the second half for a 36-32 lead, but eight points from Gage highlighted a 17-7 run to give Stanford a 49-43 advantage with just over 10 minutes left.

A three-pointer by J.T. Terrell and five straight points from Omar Oraby gave the Trojans a 51-49 lead with seven minutes to play, but the Cardinal scored the next nine points for a six-point advantage with just under four minutes left. However, USC rallied to force the overtime.

Stanford returns to Maples Pavilion on Wednesday, Jan. 29, hosting No. 1/1 Arizona at 6 p.m.

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NOTES: Stanford won its first overtime game since March 19, 2012, edging Illinois State 92-88 at Maples Pavilion in the Postseason NIT … The Cardinal won its first overtime game on the road since Jan. 7, 2012, when the Cardinal edged Oregon State 103-101 in quadruple-overtime … Stanford and USC went to overtime for the first time since March 8, 2007, when the Trojans came away with an 83-79 victory in the Pac-12 Tournament … Stanford improved to 10-0 when leading at halftime … Prior to today, Stanford’s only victory in its last 17 attempts against the LA schools was a 59-47 win at USC two years ago … USC swept last year’s season series, winning two games by a combined three points … Stanford racked up 11 steals, its most since coming up with 12 thefts against UC Davis last December … In addition to his 12 points off the bench, John Gage totaled four rebounds and a career-best four steals in 22 minutes … Anthony Brown dished out a career-high six assists … Josh Huestis did not record a block for the third time in four games. He remains stuck on 157 for his career, second to school record-holder Tim Young’s 167 … Stanford is 5-1 in games following a loss this year… Stanford coaches and support staff participated in Suits and Sneakers weekend as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative.