STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford men's basketball cut a 23-point deficit to eight points late in the second half, but could not overcome a slow start against No. 21 UCLA, opening up Pac-12 play with an 80-66 defeat on Thursday night.
Spencer Jones had a season-high 18 points, finishing 7-for-10 from the floor and 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Michael Jones was in double figures with 10 and five assists, while James Keefe tallied nine points, a game-high seven rebounds and four assists. Isa Silva and Ryan Agarwal scored eight points apiece.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 27 points to lead the Bruins, who have now won three straight after dropping back-to-back games to No. 6 Baylor and No. 16 Illinois in Las Vegas.
The Cardinal (3-5, 0-1) outscored the Bruins 37-30 in the second half, starting with three straight baskets within 90 seconds from Spencer Jones.
Stanford pulled within eight points with less than five minutes remaining, with a Brandon Angel triple capping a 10-0 rum, but the Cardinal could not complete the comeback after trailing by 21 points at halftime.
The team sees a quick turnaround in Pac-12 play, traveling to Tempe for a 4 p.m. bout on Sunday, Dec. 4. The action will air on ESPN2.