STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford rode a second half surge to move to 2-0 on the season, defeating Cal State Fullerton at Maples Pavilion, 80-53.
Benny Gealer and Jaylen Blakes each recorded career highs, with Gealer scoring 20 points with six made threes and Blakes had 18 points to go with five assists and no turnovers. Maxime Raynaud tallied his second straight double-double to begin the year, tallying 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Chisom Okpara was also in double figures with 10 points and Ryan Agarwal had eight.
The Cardinal and Titans (0-2) played a defensive battle in a first half that included 34 combined free throw attempts. Cal State Fullerton led by as many as 11 in the first half, 22-11, but Stanford responded with a 19-5 run to close the period and lead by three at the intermission, 30-27. Stanford held the Titans without a field goal for the final 12:04 in the frame.
Gealer scored all 20 of his points in the second half, leading Stanford to a 50-26 advantage over the final 20 minutes. Gealer’s six threes in a single half marked the first time a Stanford player accomplished the feat since Spencer Jones last season in the second half against Washington (Jan. 20, 2024).
The Cardinal made 10 threes in the second half, with Agarwal adding two as well. Stanford went on a 20-2 run to push the game out of reach in the middle of the half, and it added an additional 12-2 run later in the period.
The Cardinal ended the game on a 69-31 run.
Stanford returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 12, continuing a five-game homestand when it welcomes Northern Arizona to Maples Pavilion. The action airs at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.