STANFORD, Calif. – Completing an unblemished opening week to the college basketball season, Stanford men’s basketball earned an 81-63 victory over Oakland at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal improved to 2-0 this season with the result.
Nick Townsend led the Cardinal with 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals, finishing 8-for-11 from the floor and 8-for-9 from the free throw line. Christian Bliss added a season-best 17 points with eight rebounds, including a 4-for-5 tally from beyond the 3-point arc. Aidan Camman was in double figures for the second consecutive game, finishing with 13 points and two steals.
Julius Price added eight points, while classmates Aziz Olajuwon and Isaiah Rogers each connected on a pair of 3-pointers. Stanford limited Oakland (0-2) to just four assists while forcing 14 turnovers, holding an advantage on the night in points from turnovers, points in the paint and second chance points.
The Golden Grizzlies held a brief 11-7 lead early, but Stanford responded with a 7-0 run that included a pair of field goals from Townsend to take a 14-11 lead with 12:14 remaining in the first half. Stanford added an additional 8-0 run, including six points from Bliss, to lead 25-17 with 7:27 to play, and the Cardinal held a five-point lead at the half, 38-33.
Stanford pulled away over the course of the second half, with Bliss making back-to-back 3-pointers at the midpoint of the period to extend the advantage to double digits. The Cardinal ended the game on a 17-9 run over the final 6:16 to secure its second consecutive win.
The Cardinal completes its season-opening three-game homestand on Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. against Rice. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.