STANFORD, Calif. – Opening the conference slate in a low-possession defensive battle, Stanford men’s basketball fell to visiting Notre Dame, 47-40, at Maples Pavilion. Stanford drops to 11-3 on the season and 0-1 in the ACC.
Chisom Okpara led the Cardinal with 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers and a 5-for-6 mark at the free throw line. Oskar Giltay tallied double digit rebounds for the second time in his career, finishing with 11 boards to go with three steals and one block, while eight different Cardinal players contributed field goals on the night.
Stanford’s defense held Notre Dame (10-4, 1-0 ACC) to just 32.1 percent from the floor and 18.8 percent from beyond the arc, and it held the Fighting Irish to just 47 points on the evening, marking its lowest since giving up 46 to Oregon State on Jan. 19, 2023. The 32.1 percent from the floor was the top mark of the season for the Cardinal defense, and Stanford won the turnover battle on the night, 12-6.
The second-consecutive low-scoring battle between the programs in ACC action, Stanford held an early 10-4 lead after six early points from Okpara. Notre Dame responded with a 10-0 run to take the lead, 14-10, and it led by five at the half, 22-17. The 22 points allowed are the lowest in a half this season by the Cardinal defense.
The Irish extended its advantage as large as 16 points, 38-22, with 11:46 to play, but Stanford fought back with a 13-1 run to pull within four, 39-35, with 5:52 to play. Stanford had multiple chances to pull within one possession in the closing minutes, but the cold shooting night continued, and Notre Dame finished with the win.
Stanford returns to action on Friday, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. against No. 16/13 Louisville. The action will air on ACC Network.