STANFORD, Calif.- Chasson Randle scored 16 of his game-high 26 points at the free throw line while Anthony Brown added 22 on 8-13 shooting to lead Stanford past Cal Poly Pomona 79-76 on Thursday night in an exhibition at Maples Pavilion.
The Cardinal grew an advantage as large as 14 early in the second half following a Randle layup in traffic with 15:31 remaining, but the Broncos clawed back to take a 64-61 lead thanks to a three-pointer from Ryan Hall with 7:11 remaining.
Stanford was slightly more efficient from behind the arc – 43 to 40 percent – but the Broncos nailed six of their first eight in the second half during their run. After Cal Poly Pomona matched its largest lead of the game at 68-65 with 5:29 to go, Stanford closed by scoring 14 of the game’s final 22 points.
Stanford led 77-70 with 2:12 left to play, but Cal Poly Pomona scored the next six points before being forced to foul to extend the game. Randle then converted a pair of free throws and Cal Poly Pomona came up empty on two opportunities in the final 19 seconds.
After going 22-7 last season and reaching the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament, Cal Poly Pomona earned the No. 3 spot in the D-II preseason poll. In each of the past two years, the Broncos have boasted the top defense nationally.
Stefan Nastic added 15 points, including a 9-10 clip from the foul line. Reid Travis contributed a game-high 11 rebounds while scoring seven points.
In a game which featured six ties and seven lead changes, Stanford outscored Cal Poly Pomona by 23 at the free throw line, knocking down 31-43 while the Broncos converted just 8-13.
Statistics from the exhibition game do not count toward regular-season totals.
The 100th season of Stanford basketball gets underway on Friday, Nov. 14, when Stanford welcomes Wofford to Maples Pavilion for a 9 p.m. tip as part of the Northwestern Mutual Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
One year ago, Stanford (23-13, 10-8 Pac-12) advanced to the Sweet 16 for only the fifth time in school history following upsets of New Mexico and Kansas. Quite an accomplishment, considering the Cardinal lost two starters and two key reserves to season-ending injuries. Making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008, Stanford tied for third in the highly-competitive Pac-12 and posted a 53-51 road win at No. 10/10 Connecticut that represented the only nonconference loss for the NCAA champion Huskies.
That same national buzz has carried over to this year, with Stanford checking in one spot shy of the top-25 in both national preseason polls. Additionally, the Cardinal has been tabbed to finish fifth in the Pac-12 race.
The early optimism can be chalked up to the veteran core of co-captains Brown, Nastic and Randle, which gained valuable starting experience during last year’s memorable postseason run. It’s a hard-working senior trio that is equally accomplished in the classroom, with all three players currently completing coursework toward their master’s degrees.
Throw in the arrival of a top-20 recruiting class, and it’s easy to see why Stanford is poised for another shot at the NCAA Tournament.