Stanford (14-11, 7-6 Pac-12) at Arizona State (17-8, 8-5 Pac-12)
Wednesday • Feb. 20 • 6:00 p.m. PT
Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
Television: ESPN2 | Radio: Stanford Cardinal Sports Network
Game Notes: Stanford | Live Stats: TheSunDevils.com
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STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford heads on the road in Pac-12 play for the final time during the regular season, traveling to Tempe, Arizona, for a Wednesday matchup with Arizona State at Wells Fargo Arena. The Cardinal has won its last three against the Sun Devils, including an 85-71 victory earlier this season.
FIVE OF SIX
Stanford has won five of its last six games, with three double-digit victories during the span. That includes a 23-point win at Oregon State and a 24-point victory over UCLA at home. The Cardinal is one of just three Pac-12 teams to win five of its last six, along with Washington and Colorado. In Stanford's five wins during the stretch, it is averaging 85.0 ppg and shooting 52.6% (151-287).
SHARMA SINGLE-SEASON FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE LEADER
Senior Josh Sharma's 69.0 field goal percentage is the highest in a season in program history. He is currently ahead of second-place John Revelli, who shot 67.1 percent during the 1982-83 season. He leads the Pac-12 by nearly six percent (UCLA's Moses Brown ranks second at 63.3%). Sharma would lead the nation in FG percentage, however the NCAA only ranks individuals who average 5.0 or more made field goals per game. Sharma currently averages 3.92 field goals per game. Sharma's 69.0% is currently sixth-best in a season in conference history. It is the best mark in 22 years, since UCLA's Jelani McCoy set the conference single-season FG% record at 75.6%.
SHARMA EARNS SECOND PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Josh Sharma was voted the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday, marking his second conference weekly honor of the season. The Cardinal senior averaged a double-double for the week at 18.0 ppg and 10.5 rpg. He posted his second career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds in the 24-point win over UCLA. His 22-point performance was one shy of his career-high, set earlier this season against Long Beach State.
SENIOR AMONG SELECT COMPANY WITH MULTIPLE CONFERENCE HONORS
Josh Sharma, who was also named the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Dec. 31, is the first Stanford player to be recognized with the conference's weekly award multiple times in the same season since Landry Fields during the 2009-10 season. He is the sixth Cardinal to accomplish the feat all-time, joining Fields (2009-10), Matt Haryasz (2005-06), Matt Lottich (2003-04), Adam Keefe (1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92) and Todd Lichti (1988-89).
NO. 20 HAS TWO 10s THAT ADD UP
In the UCLA win, Josh Sharma finished 10-of-11 from the field with seven dunks. He is the 10th player in program history with at least 10 field goal attempts and just one miss or zero misses.
Sharma owns a career field goal percentage of 55.3%, which ranks 10th in program history. Counting just two-point field goal attempts, Sharma's field goal percentage rises to 59.3%.
NOTABLES FROM SATURDAY'S 104-80 WIN OVER UCLA
• 24-point win was Stanford's largest over UCLA in 22 years (109-61 victory on Jan. 9, 1997)
• First 100-point game since a 107-99 double-overtime victory over UCLA on Jan. 4, 1998
• First 100-point game in regulation since a 112-103 loss to BYU on Nov. 11, 2013
• First 100-point game in a win in regulation since a 111-66 victory over Texas Tech on Dec. 28, 2008
• Fourth time in 241 meetings since 1925 Stanford scored 100 points vs. UCLA (2nd non-OT game)
• 55 2nd-half points were the most in a half against a conference opponent since Feb. 3, 2007 (55 2nd half vs. California)
• 55 2nd-half points marked fourth 50+ points in the 2nd half this season
• 23 assists were the most in a game since March 8, 2017 (23 in an OT loss to Arizona State)
• 23 assists were the most in a game in regulation since Nov. 18, 2011 (23 in a win over UC Davis)
• Third-straight win over UCLA at home, snapped a three-game losing streak to UCLA overall
BACK-TO-BACK NON-OT CONFERENCE GAMES WITH FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Five different Stanford players (Sharma-22, Okpala-20, Ryan-19, Davis-12, Wills-10) scored in double figures in the win over UCLA. It marked the second consecutive game five members of the Cardinal scored in double figures in a single contest. Against USC, Okpala (18), Sheffield (16), Sharma (14), Wills (11) and da Silva (10) each achieved the feat. Stanford last had five in double figures in back-to-back non-OT conference games in 1999, on Jan. 16 against UCLA (Madsen-16, Lee-14, Sauer-12, Weems-11, Young-10) and Jan. 21 against Washington State (Madsen-15, Young-15, Moseley-15, Lee-12, Weems-11).
KZ OKPALA AMONG PAC-12'S BEST
Sophomore KZ Okpala, one of 10 finalists for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in scoring (17.5 ppg) and 15th in rebounding (5.8 rpg). In conference play, the forward is fourth in scoring, averaging 18.4 ppg. Okpala scored a career-high 30 points at California. He has 13 20-point games this season, the second-most in the conference.
BREAKING DOWN OKPALA'S PERFORMANCES
• 13 20-point games this season is the second-most in the Pac-12 and is nine more than last year
• Career-high 30 points at California is one of 10 30-point games in conference play this year
• Averaging 18.5 ppg in his last 15 games, after averaging 15.9 ppg in the first nine contests.
• Stanford is 4-1 when Okpala scores 23 points or more (only loss was by two to Arizona)
• Of the 20 performances of 29+ points in the Pac-12, only Okpala and Robert Franks have achieved the feat three or more times
OKPALA'S IMPACT AS A SOPHOMORE
Sophomore KZ Okpala leads Stanford in scoring (17.5 ppg) in 33.5 mpg in 24 games this season (missed Washington State game with an injury). In 23 games as a freshman, he averaged 10.0 ppg in 28.5 mpg.
AGAINST ARIZONA STATE
Stanford owns a 51-37 lead in the all-time series with Arizona State. The Cardinal has won three straight against the Sun Devils. Stanford has averaged 9.0 three-pointers per game (36 total) in the last four games between the teams.
CARDINAL PLAYERS AGAINST ARIZONA STATE
Eleven active Stanford players have faced Arizona State previously. KZ Okpala has averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.7 rpg, and Oscar da Silva has averaged 13.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg in three games against the Sun Devils. Marcus Sheffield scored a career-high 35 points vs. ASU as a sophomore during the 2016-17 season.
LAST GAME AGAINST THE SUN DEVILS
Oscar da Silva scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds, KZ Okpala added 21 points and nine rebounds and Stanford downed Arizona State 85-71 Jan. 12 at Maples Pavilion. Daejon Davis added 13 points and nine assists. Luguentz Dort scored 16 points, Rob Edwards had 13 points and Zylan Cheatham had 12 rebounds. The Cardinal scored the first 12 points of the second half, opening a 52-38 advantage. The Sun Devils were held scoreless the first 5:27. Arizona State cut the lead to five points midway through the second half when Kimani Lawrence grabbed an offensive rebound and laid it back in. That was as close as the Sun Devils came the rest of the way as Stanford went on another run and led by double-digits over the final nine minutes.