STILLWATER, Okla. — Stanford's post players – Michael Humphrey and Reid Travis – combined for 29 points and 31 rebounds, as the Cardinal battled Oklahoma State to the end in Monday night's NIT second-round game at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys prevailed with a late surge to defeat the Cardinal, 71-65, and advance in the postseason tournament.
Stanford completed its season 19-16 overall with 11 wins in the Pac-12, a five-win increase in both categories from the season before. The Cardinal earned its first postseason berth in three years.
Humphrey recorded a career-high 20 rebounds, tied for the 10th most in a game in Stanford history, to go along with 15 points in his final game in a Cardinal uniform Monday night. Travis posted his seventh consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Cardinal.
Stanford trailed Oklahoma State by 10 (27-27) with 7:06 left in the second quarter, before putting together a late surge to outscore the Cowboys, 19-11, in the period.
The Cardinal scored 13 of the final 15 points of the quarter to head into the locker room down by just one (30-29) at the half.
Stanford continued its momentum in the third quarter, taking its first lead since 2:12 into the game on a Humphrey layup with seven minutes to play in the period. The Cardinal outscored the Cowboys, 18-12, in the period to take a five-point lead (47-42) into the final quarter.
Oklahoma State seized momentum from there, scoring 11 of the first 15 points of the fourth quarter to jump ahead, 53-51, on a Jeffrey Carroll three.
Freshman Daejon Davis immediately responded with a three on the other end of the floor to put the Cardinal back ahead with 6:41 to play.
The Cowboys took control from there, putting together a 12-1 run over the next 3:32 to take a 10-point lead with 3:09 left.
Stanford feverishly tried to get back in it, using a Travis dunk, a Humphrey free throw and a Davis three to get within four with 1:02 left.
Oklahoma State's Kendall Smith connected on a three from the corner with 34 seconds remaining, however, to seal the win for the Cowboys.
Carroll scored 26 points and Smith added 19 points for Oklahoma State (21-14).
Senior Dorian Pickens rounded out Stanford's double-digit scorers with 11 for the Cardinal.
Monday's game marked the conclusion of the Stanford careers for Humphrey and Pickens. Both seniors completed their standout careers on The Farm as one of just 47 all-time members of the 1,000-point club. Humphrey finished with 1,037 points and 716 rebounds. He ranks 15th in Stanford history in career rebounds. Pickens completed his career with 1,186 points and 196 threes. His three-point total ranks eighth on Stanford's career list.