Stanford Basketball Bracketology: Loss To Cal Leaves Cardinal 15-15, Hoping For CBI Bid

The Stanford Cardinal wrapped up their 2010-2011 men’s basketball season with a loss at archrival Cal. The loss dropped Stanford to 15-15 on the season and likely will have to settle for a bid in the 2011 College Basketball Invitational. Given the youth on the team and the rebuilding process in place, that’s not too bad.

The Golden Bears cruised to an easy 74-55 victory behind 24 points from Allen Crabbe and 20 points from Harper Kamp. Cal took a 12 point lead into halftime and never let it get below ten points. Stanford had only one player get into double digit scoring in the form of 19 points from Jeremy Green. The junior guard will be a key leader next season.

Stanford has no chance at an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament and likely don’t have much chance at an NIT bid. They could still win the Pac-10 tournament but it would take one heck of a Cinderella run. The Cardinal will be the No. 8 seed and if they can get past Oregon State they would then have to beat top seeded Arizona in the second round.

While the odds are long that Stanford could win the Pac-10 tournament, the recently created College Basketball Invitational could provide a spot for the Cardinal. The tournament began in 2008 and provides a postseason opportunity for teams that can’t get into the NCAA tournament or the National Invitational Tournament. Last year the tournament included an Oregon State squad that was 14-17 heading into the tournament. We’ll keep an eye out for the CBI bracket to see if the Cardinal find themselves in postseason play in 2011.

Stanford vs. USC, NCAA Scores: Cardinal Crushed By Trojans

The Stanford Cardinal dropped into eighth place in the Pac-10 as they fell to the USC Trojans 69-53. The Cardinal were led by 13 points from Josh Owens and 11 points from Jeremy Green and Josh Huestis. USC had four players with double-digit point totals and were led by 19 points from Nikola Vucevic.

The Cardinal jumped out to an early 12-8 lead but it was all downhill from there as USC outscored them 32-19 the rest of the first half. Stanford grabbed the first basket of the second half to cut the Trojans lead to seven but USC used a 12-0 run to put the game out of reach the rest of the way.

Stanford, CA (Sports Network) – Nikola Vucevic tallied 19 points and 14 rebounds as the USC Trojans downed the Stanford Cardinal, 69-53, in a Pac-10 Conference matchup at Maples Pavilion. Alex Stepheson scored 15 points for USC (15-12, 7-7 Pac-10), while Donte Smith netted 13 points and Maurice Jones finished with 10 points. Josh Owens led Stanford (13-13, 6-9) with 13 points, while Jeremy Green and Josh Huestis each had 11 points and Dwight Powell grabbed 10 rebounds.

USC shot 59.3 percent from the field over the first 20 minutes to take a 40-31 lead into the break. The Trojans then held Stanford to just 20 percent shooting in the second half to earn the win. The Trojans flexed their muscles down low, outscoring the Cardinal 28-18 in the paint.

Stanford vs. USC: Cardinal Look To Get Back On Winning Track Against Trojans

GAME NOTES: The Stanford Cardinal aim to get back in the win column Saturday playing host to the USC Trojans in a Pac-10 Conference battle from Maples Pavilion. Stanford lost its second game in a row on the heels of a two-game win streak in falling to UCLA at home Thursday, 69-65. The Bruins built a 16-point lead in the second half on the strength of a 9-for-17 performance on three-point shooting, then held on by draining 16-of-25 at the charity stripe. Stanford made just 8-of-14 from the foul line and wasted a career-high 27 points from Jeremy Green in the setback. Anthony Brown added 15 points.

USC won for the second time in three games with a tough, 78-75, road win at California Thursday as freshman Maurice Jones poured in all of his team-high 22 points in the second half in his first game coming off the bench this season. The Trojans shot 51.9 percent in the second half and needed all of their 45 points as Cal buried 57.6 percent of its shots to rack up 53 second- half points. Nikola Vucevic logged a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Alex Stepheson posted 10 points and 11 boards. USC shot 47.4 percent overall and sank 16-of-26 at the foul line to hold on for the win.

USC leads the all-time series by just a 120-118 count. The Trojans logged a 65-42 win in Los Angeles on January 20, their sixth win in the last 10 meetings with the Cardinal. USC’s last road victory in the series came back on February 21, 2002, with the season series having resulted in a split each of the last five years.

The Trojans look to a number of sources for their scoring, placing three players in double-digit scoring. Vucevic leads the charge at 17.0 points per game and a stout 10.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor. Jones checks in at 10.2 points with a team-best 58 steals and Donte Smith averages 10.1 with a team-leading 58 three-pointers on 36.9 percent shooting. Providing solid complimentary minutes are Jio Fontan and Stepheson, who post 9.9 and 9.5 points per game. Stepheson adds a solid 8.9 rebounds to stand second to Vucevic and shoots 54.5 percent from the floor. Overall, USC puts up 66.9 points per game and connects on 44.2 percent of its field goals. The defense is a strong point, as the Trojans let up just 63.4 points to competitors and a 41.5 shooting percentage. The Trojans also hold a slight edge on the boards to the tune of a 34.1-32.8 average differential.

The Cardinal have leveled off since a surprising 10-5 start to the season but still have enough talent to hang with most Pac-10 clubs. Stanford’s defense has relented a bit as well after a rousing start but still holds teams to 63.4 points per game and 42.5 percent shooting from the floor. The offense doesn’t dazzle but gets the job done with 65.5 points per game and a 42.6 shooting percentage. Green is the team’s leading scorer at 16.1 points per game and knocks down 42.9 percent of his three-point attempts with 69 on the year. Josh Owens puts forth a solid 11.4 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds to bolster a plus-1.8 margin on the glass (34.2-32.4). Dwight Powell contributes on most nights as well, averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds, while Brown kicks in 8.2 ppg for added depth.

Both teams have been fighting a bit of inconsistent play for the majority of the conference schedule, but USC often gets by with its superior depth in scoring. If the defense shows up Saturday and Jones continues to respond to his demotion, the Trojans should be able to post another tough road win with Stanford’s noted struggles.

GAME NOTES: The Stanford Cardinal aim to get back in the win column Saturday playing host to the USC Trojans in a Pac-10 Conference battle from Maples Pavilion.

FACTS & STATS: Maples Pavilion (7,329) — Stanford, California. Television: CSN-BAY. Home Record: USC 10-4, Stanford 10-4. Away Record: USC 3-7, Stanford 2-6. Neutral Record: USC 1-1, Stanford 1-2. Conference Record: USC 6-7, Stanford 6-8. Series Record: USC leads, 120-118.

Saturday, February 19th, 10:30 p.m. (et)

USC 66, Stanford 64

Stanford vs. UCLA, NCAA Scores: Jeremy Green's 27 Points Not Enough As Cardinal Fall To Bruins

Stanford, CA (Sports Network) – Reeves Nelson scored 18 points as the UCLA Bruins recorded a 69-65 win over the Stanford Cardinal in a Pac-10 Conference bout at Maples Pavilion. Also scoring in double figures for the Bruins (19-7, 10-3) were Tyler Honeycutt and Joshua Smith with 16 and 13 points, respectively, as the squad won its sixth in a row and the 10th in the last 11 outings.

The Cardinal (13-12, 6-8) was paced by Jeremy Green who tallied a game-high 27 points, shooting 9-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-8 behind the three-point line in the team’s second straight setback. Anthony Brown posted 15 points and Josh Owens added 12 points. UCLA scored the first points of the night and never looked back, the visitors shooting 52.4 percent from the floor and 6-of-11 behind the three-point line in the first half, en route to a 36-29 advantage as the break.

In the second half both squads shot just over 42 percent from the floor, but Stanford closed the gap with 7-of-13 shooting out on the perimeter before falling in the four-point decision. The Bruins outscored Stanford by a 16-8 margin at the free-throw line and also connected on 9-of-17 shots behind the three-point line in order to overcome 17 turnovers.

Stanford vs. UCLA: Cardinal Look To Clear Pac-10 Logjam

GAME NOTES: Firmly in the midst of a five-game win streak, the UCLA Bruins take their act to Maples Pavilion, for a Pac-10 Conference date with the Stanford Cardinal. UCLA has established itself as one of the hottest teams in the Pac-10 since mid-January, winning five straight and nine of its last 10 contests. The Bruins now find themselves one game behind first place Arizona in the league standings at 9-3.

The Cardinal fell, 87-76 at Washington on Saturday to halt a two-game win streak. At 13-11 overall, the Cardinal can match last year’s win total of 14 with a victory tonight. The team has compiled a 6-7 Pac-10 mark to date. With respect to the all-time series, tonight’s matchup marks the 225th meeting between UCLA and Stanford. The Bruins currently hold a 134-90 lead over the Cardinal.

UCLA last played this past Saturday, earning a 69-61 victory over Oregon State to stretch its win-streak to five games. The victory also marked the Bruins’ 13th straight over the Beavers, who haven’t won a game in the series since the 2005 Pac-10 Tournament. The Bruins’ utter domination in recent years marks the longest active streak of one league opponent over another. Malcolm Lee led the charge this Saturday, scoring 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Joshua Smith came off the bench to score 15 points and grab six boards. UCLA held Oregon State to 32.9 percent shooting, including 36.4 percent from beyond the arc on the night. Lee paces the squad on the season, averaging 13.8 ppg, while Reeves Nelson has proven just as effective, scoring 13.7 ppg, while puling down a team-high 8.7 rpg. Tyler Honeycutt (12.5 ppg), Smith (10.6 ppg) and Lazeric Jones (10.4 ppg) round out the bulk of the scoring attack, as the Bruins average 71 ppg on the whole. They limit teams to 66.5 ppg on the defensive end.

In its last contest, Stanford was overwhelmed by the force that is Isaiah Thomas, as the Washington point guard awoke from an early slumber to score 14 points over the final three minutes of the first half to give the Huskies an insurmountable 48-31 lead at the break. The Cardinal was led in defeat by Jeremy Green, who matched a season-high with 24 points, while grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds, to post his first career double-double. He has now scored at least 20 points in four straight games. Green’s backcourt mate, Anthony Brown, added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while forward Josh Owens connected on 6-of-8 field goal attempts for his 12 points. Green leads the unbalanced offense on the season, averaging a team-high 15.7 ppg. He is joined by Owens (11.4 ppg) as the only players to average double figures. Owens also pulls downs a team-high 6.8 rpg, as the Cardinal posts a plus-2.3 rebounding margin. In conjunction with Stanford’s strong effort on the glass is a stingy defense attack, which limits opponents to 63.1 ppg.

Stanford is a quality Pac-10 team, but UCLA has established itself among the conference elite. Look for the Bruins to earn the win behind their balanced offensive attack.

GAME NOTES: Firmly in the midst of a five-game win streak, the UCLA Bruins take their act to Maples Pavilion, for a Pac-10 Conference date with the Stanford Cardinal.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Maples Pavilion (7,329) — Stanford, California. Television: FSN. Home Record: UCLA 14-2, Stanford 10-3. Away Record: UCLA 3-3, Stanford 2-6. Neutral Record: UCLA 1-2, Stanford 1-2. Conference Record: UCLA 9-4, Stanford 6-7. Series Record: UCLA leads, 134-90.

Thursday, February 17th, 10:30 p.m. (et)

UCLA 70, Stanford 62

Stanford vs. Washington: Cardinal Look For Second Straight Pac-10 Upset

The Stanford Cardinal look to build on their upset of the Washington State Cougars as they wrap up their 2011 Washington road trip. The Cardinal face the Washington Huskies looking to get out of the 6-6 logjam for fourth place. A win over the Huskies would pull the Cardinal to within a game third place in the Pac-10 and add another solid win to their resume. Stanford played a relatively weak non-conference schedule and a win over Washington would be a boost.

GAME NOTES: The Washington Huskies welcome the Stanford Cardinal to Seattle for what is sure to be a spirited Pac-10 Conference affair. Wins in two straight games have enabled Stanford to even its Pac-10 record at 6-6 and move to 13-10 overall. The Cardinal is coming off a 75-62 victory over Washington State on Thursday, marking just its second true road win of the season in what was its seventh trip into enemy territory.

As for Washington, it finally managed to halt a three-game skid on Thursday with a 109-77 thrashing of California. The Huskies suffered all three of the losses during that recent slide on the road, but now they are back home where they have won all 12 games to date. They are 16-7 overall, including 8-4 in conference.

Stanford owns a 70-65 series lead over Washington, which includes a 58-56 triumph over the Huskies last month.

Jeremy Green has led Stanford in scoring in each of the last three outings, topping 20 points in all of those affairs. With the recent surge, Green has bumped his season scoring average up to 15.3 ppg, an output that would be greater if not for his 39.4 percent shooting from the field. Josh Owens checks in with 11.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg, and he is the only other double-digit scorer on the roster. For the season, the Cardinal is generating 65.1 ppg while holding opponents to 62.1 ppg on 42.1 percent field goal efficiency. Green was sensational in the 13-point victory over Washington State two days ago, as he drilled all five of his three-point attempts and finished with 24 points. Dwight Powell added 16 points and eight rebounds, while Anthony Brown tallied 12 points. Jarrett Mann handed out 11 assists for the Cardinal, which shot 50 percent from the floor.

Isaiah Thomas, Matt Bryan-Amaning and Justin Holiday provide Washington with a trio of solid performers. Thomas is scoring 16.8 ppg to go along with 5.9 apg, and he is considered one of the elite guards in the Pac-10. Bryan-Amaning checks in with 15.8 ppg on 57.4 percent shooting from the field, and he is ripping down 7.9 rpg as well. As for Holiday, he rounds out the trio with 12.4 ppg. The Huskies have the potential to approach triple digits on any given night, as they are averaging 85.9 ppg while limiting opponents to 69.8 ppg. Thomas scored 23 points to go along with nine assists on Thursday, and Bryan- Amaning added 18 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the win over Cal. C.J. Wilcox pitched in 14 points, and Holiday registered 12 points. Clearly, a 56.6 percent shooting effort from the field helped Washington, and the club finished a staggering 17-of-31 from three-point range.

The Huskies racked up 109 points against Cal despite hitting only six free throws. Washington may very well be the most talented team in the conference, and a victory over Stanford seems likely.

GAME NOTES: The Washington Huskies welcome the Stanford Cardinal to Seattle for what is sure to be a spirited Pac-10 Conference affair.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Bank of America Arena (10,000) — Seattle, Washington. Television: FSN-NW. Home Record: Stanford 10-3, Washington 12-0. Away Record: Stanford 2-5, Washington 3-5. Neutral Record: Stanford 1-2, Washington 1-2. Conference Record: Stanford 6-6, Washington 8-4. Series Record: Stanford leads, 70-65.

Saturday, February 12th, 8:30 p.m. (et)

Washington 90, Stanford 74

Jeremy Green, Dwight Powell, Stanford Pull Off Huge Win Over DeAngelo Casto & Washington State

In the biggest upset of the Pac-12 season, Stanford went into Pullman and got a huge road victory over Washington St. The Cougars continue their inconsistent play and have now fallen off the NCAA tournament bubble. For more, head over to Rule of Tree.

Pullman, WA (Sports Network) – Jeremy Green netted 24 points to lead the Stanford Cardinal to a 75-62 victory over the Washington State Cougars in a Pac-10 Conference tilt at Beasley Coliseum.

Dwight Powell scored 16 points for Stanford (13-10, 6-6 Pac-10), while Anthony Brown finished with 12 points and Jarrett Mann handed out 11 assists.

DeAngelo Casto paced Washington State (16-8, 6-6) with 22 points, while Klay Thompson added 15 points and seven boards.

Stanford jumped out to a 45-28 lead at the break behind a blistering 7-of-8 effort from three-point territory.

The second half saw the Cardinal hit 14-of-17 free throws to seal the victory.

Stanford was opportunistic, as it converted 12 Washington State turnovers into 16 points.

Stanford vs. Washington State: Cardinal Looks To Tie Cougars In Pac-10 Standings

GAME NOTES: The Stanford Cardinal and the Washington State Cougars are slated to do battle in a Pac-10 Conference affair tonight.

Stanford is 12-10 overall this season and a lackluster 5-6 versus Pac-10 opposition. On a positive note, two of the last three outings have resulted in victory for the Cardinal, including last Saturday’s 83-75 triumph over Arizona State. The hope tonight for Stanford is that it can improve its poor 1-5 record in true road games.

Wins in four of the last six outings have enabled Washington State to improve to 16-7 overall and 6-5 in league action. Last Saturday, the Cougars played tremendous defense in a 61-55 road victory over Oregon State. They are 9-2 at home this season and figure to play with a wealth of confidence tonight.

Last month, Washington State edged Stanford by a 61-58 final, overshadowing the fact that the Cardinal still own a 68-58 series lead over the Cougars.

Stanford is far from explosive at the offensive end of the court, as the team is generating a modest 64.6 ppg on 42 percent shooting from the floor. Fortunately, the Cardinal have played extremely well at the defensive end, limiting foes to 62.1 ppg on 41.8 percent field goal efficiency. Jeremy Green leads Stanford with 14.9 ppg on 38.2 percent field goal efficiency, but he is a 40 percent shooter from three-point range. Josh Owens checks in with 11.8 ppg as the only other double-digit scorer on the roster, and the 58.8 percent shooter from the field is ripping down 7.0 rpg. Against Arizona State last Saturday, Stanford shot 52.2 percent from the field and nailed 10-of-18 three- pointers in the process. Green hit all five of his three-point attempts en route to 23 points, and Owens finished with 16.

Klay Thompson is considered by many fans and analysts to be the best player in the Pac-10 this year. The Washington State standout is averaging 21.2 ppg on the strength of his 41.7 percent shooting from three-point range, and he is also contributing 5.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 45 steals and 26 blocks, proof of his outstanding versatility. Faisal Aden provides 13.6 ppg as a solid second scoring option, and DeAngelo Casto checks in with 10.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg. While the Cougars are generating 73.7 ppg at the offensive end, they are holding opponents to 64.8 ppg. Washington State committed 20 turnovers against Oregon State on Saturday, but the Cougars were able to overcome at carelessness by earning a 42-30 rebounding advantage and an 18-11 edge in points from the foul line. Thompson was held to six points in that affair, and the fact that his team won the game anyway is impressive.

Expect the Cougars to complete the season sweep of the Cardinal this evening, as Thompson will lead the way as usual.

GAME NOTES: The Stanford Cardinal and the Washington State Cougars are slated to do battle in a Pac-10 Conference affair tonight.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Beasley Coliseum (11,671) — Pullman, Washington. Television: None. Home Record: Stanford 10-3, Washington St. 9-2. Away Record: Stanford 1-5, Washington St. 4-4. Neutral Record: Stanford 1-2, Washington St. 3-1. Conference Record: Stanford 5-6, Washington St 6-5. Series Record: Stanford leads, 68-58.

Thursday, February 10th, 10:00 p.m. (et)

Washington State 75, Stanford 67

Jeremy Green Leads Stanford To 83-75 Victory Over Arizona State

Stanford, CA (Sports Network) – Jeremy Green hit all five of his three-point attempts and poured in 23 points to lead the Stanford Cardinal to an 83-75 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils in a Pac-10 battle. Josh Owens added 16 points for Stanford (12-10, 5-6 Pac-10), which got 14 points and seven assists from Jarrett Mann. Jamelle McMillan had 17 points in the loss for Arizona State (9-14, 1-10), which received 14 points from Trent Lockett and 10 points from Carrick Felix.

Both teams shot 12-of-25 from the floor in the first half, and Stanford led 36-32 at intermission. Over the final 20 minutes, the Cardinal made good on 57.1 percent of their field goal attempts and scored 19 points from the foul line to claim the win. The Cardinal, who won for just the second time in its last seven outings, outscored the Sun Devils 25-11 from the charity stripe in the clash.

Stanford is currently 12-10 overall and 5-6 in conference. They were tied with Oregon and Oregon State heading into today looking to get some separation from the bottom half pack. Oregon pulled off a home upset of Washington to also improve to 5-6. Oregon State is currently hosting Washington State and finds themselves trailing by 10 midway through the second half. An Oregon State loss would improve Washington State to 6-5 and keep them a game ahead of Stanford and Oregon.

Stanford vs. Arizona State: Cardinal Look To Break Out Of 4-6 Group

GAME NOTES: The Arizona State Sun Devils make the trip across the bay to Maples Pavilion for a Pac-10 date with the Stanford Cardinal. Arizona State is in desperate need of a win tonight, having lost six straight contests. Pac-10 play has not been kind to the Sun Devils. They have played to an 8-4 clip against non-conference foes, but are just 1-9 against league opponents.

Speaking of desperation, Stanford currently reeks of it. After beginning Pac-10 play at 3-1, the Cardinal has lost five of its last six contests to fall to 4-6 in league action. Included in the slump was a four-game losing streak that stretched from Jan. 15th to Jan. 27th. The Cardinal broke the slide with a victory over Oregon State on Jan. 29th, before a loss to No. 21 Arizona on Thursday night shattered hopes of a swift turnaround.

With regard to the season series, this evening’s matchup marks the 71st meeting between Arizona State and Stanford. The Cardinal currently holds a 40-30 lead over the Sun Devils.

Arizona State has not won since a 69-59, non-conference victory over Tulsa on Jan. 12th. The Sun Devils have now lost eight consecutive Pac-10 games, falling most recently to Cal on Thursday night. Arizona State trailed Cal by just two at the half and fought hard in the second half before eventually succumbing to the Golden Bears. The Sun Devils held Cal to 26.1 percent shooting and 20 percent shooting from three-point range in the second half to remain in contention. What truly sunk Arizona State was its inability to stay out of foul trouble. The Sun Devils were outscored 14-6 from the charity stripe over the final 20 minutes. Trent Lockett hit five of Arizona State’s eight free throws on the night and paced the team with 18 points. Jamelle McMillan added 14 points and went 4-of-7 from downtown. Lockett leads the team in scoring (14.1 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg) and free throw attempts (93) this year. He is paced by the exciting Ty Abbott, who has hit a team-high 59 three- pointers and scores 13.6 ppg. Rihards Kuksiks adds 10.2 ppg, but from there the scoring tails off, and the Sun Devils manage just 63.7 ppg, which is the main reason for their undesirable record.

Jeremy Green led Stanford in its 78-69 loss to nationally ranked Arizona. He scored 21 points but shot just 8-of-21 from the floor. As a whole the Cardinal hit 41.3 percent of its shots and 24 percent of its three-point shots on the night. Forward Josh Owens fought with vigor on the blocks, scoring 13 points and pulling down nine rebounds. He led the Cardinal to a 37-32 rebounding advantage. Jarrett Mann turned in perhaps the best all-around Cardinal performance, as he netted 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while grabbing eight boards and handing out a team-high five assists. Still, Stanford’s effort fell short against a superior squad. Arizona shot 52.9 percent for the game and outscored the Cardinal 19-11 from the free throw line. Stanford is not used to being exposed on the defensive end. The Cardinal is allowing teams to shoot just 41.4 percent from the floor and is allowing just 61.5 ppg. Typically, the problem for Stanford is a lack of consistent offense. The Cardinal, led by Green (14.5 ppg) averages just 63.8 ppg.

Stanford is coming off a tough loss to a superior opponent and stumbles upon the perfect opportunity for a bounce back win tonight. The Cardinal should be able to return to their typical brand of strong defensive play in a win.

GAME NOTES: The Arizona State Sun Devils make the trip across the bay to Maples Pavilion for a Pac-10 date with the Stanford Cardinal.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Maples Pavilion (7,329) — Stanford, California. Television: FSN. Home Record: Arizona State 5-5, Stanford 9-3. Away Record: Arizona State 2-7, Stanford 1-5. Neutral Record: Arizona State 2-1, Stanford 1-2. Conference Record: Arizona State 1-9, Stanford 4-6. Series Record: Stanford leads, 40-30.

Saturday, February 5th, 6:00 p.m. (et)

Stanford 64, Arizona State 60

Derrick Williams, Momo Jones, Arizona Wildcats Too Much For Jeremy Green, Josh Owens And Stanford Cardinal

Palo Alto, CA (Sports Network) – Derrick Williams led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds, as the 21st-ranked Arizona Wildcats defeated the Stanford Cardinal, 78-69, at Maples Pavilion.

Lamont Jones netted 15 points for the Wildcats (19-4, 8-2 Pac-10), who have won four straight and seven of their last eight games overall. Jesse Perry contributed 12 points and Kyle Fogg scored 11 in the victory.

"The best teams do what they have to do to get the win. We grinded it out tonight," said Jones.

Jeremy Green totaled 21 points while Josh Owens posted 13 points with nine rebounds for the struggling Cardinal (11-10, 4-6), who have dropped six of their last eight contests. Jarrett Mann added 11 points in the loss.

"They’re the top of our conference, they’re ranked in the nation. We needed this win. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it," said Green. "We didn’t execute. We didn’t get the stops there down at the end."

Arizona led 39-33 at the start of the second half, but Stanford roared back and took the lead with an 11-1 run to start the stanza. An Owens layup started the surge, which was highlighted by a Green dunk.

But the Wildcats began to take control back and when Williams finished a three-point play with 9:40 remaining, Arizona led 54-48.

The score remained tight and was tied at 58-58 on two foul shots by Dwight Powell with 5:02 to play. From that point, though, a 12-4 run by Arizona essentially put the game away. Fogg’s jumper started the spurt, which was capped by a pair from the charity stripe by Williams for a 70-62 advantage with 1:23 on the clock.

Arizona used strong free-throw shooting over the final minute and held on for the nine-point victory.

"They didn’t fall tonight," said Stanford head coach Johnny Dawkins. "Arizona made some key plays down the stretch. I have to give them credit."

Games Notes

Arizona improved to 5-2 on the road this season and now leads the all-time series, 53-29. The Wildcats have also won 11 of their last 15 against Stanford overall…Stanford shot 41.3 percent from the field (26-for-63) but won the battle on the glass, 37-32…Stanford ended 6-of-25 from three-point range.

Stanford vs. Oregon State: Cardinal Roll Beavers To Split Oregon Homestand

The Stanford Cardinal rebounded from a stunning loss to Oregon by handling Oregon State 70-56. A few days after losing to Oregon at Maples Pavilion for the first time in a quarter century, the Cardinal bounced back to improve to 4-5 in the Pac-10. Stanford was led by freshman Anthony Brown’s 21 points, giving him the most points by a Cardinal freshman in two years. Josh Owens contributed 14 points for the Cardinal.

Stanford jumped out to a 13-2 lead but Oregon State rumbled back to take a late first half lead. However, after Anthony Brown hit a three with :59 left in the half to give Stanford a 31-30 lead, the Cardinal never lost their lead.

The Cardinal now sit at 4-5 in conference play and are tied for sixth place with USC. Stanford hosts Arizona and then Arizona State before heading up to Washington for a two-game road trip. At 11-9 and with an RPI of 141, the Cardinal don’t really have a shot at an at-large bid, barring a long unbeaten streak to finish the regular season. However, the conference tournament remains in play and each win gives Stanford better positioning.

Stanford vs. Oregon State: Cardinal Look To Salvage Oregon Home Split

GAME NOTES: The Oregon State Beavers will conclude their annual Bay Area trip tonight as they face the Stanford Cardinal in a Pac-10 matchup at Maples Pavilion.

Oregon State has not fared well on its recent trip, or on the road as a whole. The Beavers lost at California on Thursday night and have yet to win a Pac-10 road game this season. Overall, they have dropped two straight and five of their last six.

Stanford’s four game homestand rolls on tonight against Oregon State. The Cardinal began the home stretch with a 67-59 loss to Oregon on Thursday night. The Cardinal have now lost four games in a row and sit at 3-5 in Pac-10 play.

With respect the all-time series, tonight’s game marks the 131st meeting between Oregon State and Stanford. The Beavers currently hold a 69-61 lead over the Cardinal.

Oregon State put up little resistance in its 85-57 loss to Cal on Thursday night. Trailing by 10 at the break, the Beavers gave up 49 second half points to suffer the embarrassing defeat. Cal shot 50.8 percent on the night and handed out 23 assists. Really, though, it was the Oregon State offense which truly suffered, hitting 19-of-59 field goal attempts on the night. Jared Cunningham led the Beavers in defeat, as 11 of his 15 points came from the charity stripe. Devon Collier also had a strong game, with 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals. Lathen Wallace and Calvin Haynes led the Oregon State bench to the tune of 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Beavers score a solid 71.7 pg on the year, but allow an unforgivable 73.1 ppg on the other end. The relatively high number of points allowed per game is made more surprising by the fact that the Beavers lead the nation with 10.32 steals per game and have compiled more steals than their opponents in 14 of 19 games. They also have committed fewer turnover than their opponents in 12 of 19 games, leading to a plus-2.8 turnover margin.

The Stanford offense was virtually nonexistent in its loss to Oregon, handing out 10 assists against 18 turnovers. The Cardinal shot 41.7 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from three-point range. Tied with the Ducks at halftime, the Cardinal was outscored 38-30 in the second half to suffer the loss. Dwight Powell managed to have a solid night in defeat, scoring a team- high 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbing six boards. Jeremy Green added 13 points, although he went just 3-of-10 from the field and committed three turnovers. Anthony Brown came off the bench to score 12 points in 24 minutes of action. Stanford specializes in low-scoring games, scoring 63.2 ppg. During its current four game slump the Cardinal has not scored more than 59 points in a contest, and managed just 42 points against USC on Jan. 20th. Green leads the low-scoring attack with 14.6 pg, but he shoots just 37.6 percent from the floor. Stanford manages to stay in games due to its stingy defense, which is allowing just 60.9 ppg.

Neither team has thrived lately. Although the Oregon State defense gives up points, it does force teams into mistakes. Tonight’s matchup against the low- scoring Cardinal gives the Beavers a perfect opportunity to utilize their active hands to contain a team and earn a win.

GAME NOTES: The Oregon State Beavers will conclude their annual Bay Area trip tonight as they face the Stanford Cardinal in a Pac-10 matchup at Maples Pavilion.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Maples Pavilion (7,329) — Stanford, California. Television: CSN-BAY. Home Record: Oregon State 7-5, Stanford 8-2. Away Record: Oregon State 1-6, Stanford 1-5. Neutral Record: Oregon State 0-0, Stanford 1-2. Conference Record: Oregon State 3-5, Stanford 3-5. Series Record: Oregon State leads, 69-61.

Saturday, January 29th, 10:00 p.m. (et)

Oregon State 70, Stanford 61

Stanford vs. Oregon: Cardinal Drop Tough Home Loss To Ducks

The Stanford Cardinal fell to the Oregon Ducks 67-59 in an historic victory for Oregon. It marks Oregon’s first victory over Stanford at Palo Alto since 1986. The loss comes at a bad time for the Cardinal as they were looking to get back into the top half of the Pac-10 standings. The loss drops Stanford into a three-way tie for seventh place with Oregon and Oregon State. The Cardinal don’t travel to Eugene until February 26 so it remains to be seen what value that game will hold.

Stanford, CA (Sports Network) – Joevan Catron scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Oregon Ducks to a 67-59 victory over the Stanford Cardinal in a Pac-10 Conference bout at Maples Pavilion. Jay-R Strowbridge added 13 points off the bench in the win for Oregon (10-10, 3-5 Pac-10), which also got 10 points each from Garrett Sim and Malcolm Armstead. Dwight Powell tallied 14 points to lead the way for Stanford (10-9, 3-5), while Jeremy Green and Anthony Brown notched 13 and 12 points, respectively, in a losing effort.

The squads found themselves locked in a 29-29 tie heading into the break even as Oregon knocked down 5-of-9 shots behind the three-point line. But the Ducks broke the contest open during the second stanza, hitting 12- of-13 at the foul line to go with a 44.0 percent shooting effort from the field over the final 20 minutes. Stanford, which shot only 13-of-21 at the charity stripe, was guilty of a game-high 18 turnovers in the loss.

Stanford vs. Oregon: Cardinal Begin Four-Game Homestand Looking At Top Half Of Pac-10 Standings

GAME NOTES: The Stanford Cardinal kick off a four game home stand tonight, hosting the Oregon Ducks in a Pac-10 Conference matchup at Maples Pavilion. Oregon has won two of its last three games, most recently downing in-state rival Oregon State, 63-59, on Saturday. The Ducks hope the winning remains contagious, as they had dropped six straight games before their mini run of success. They now sit at 2-5 in Pac-10 play.

Maples Pavilion should appear to Stanford a site for sore eyes. The Cardinal has gone 8-1 at home this season, as opposed to 2-7 on the road. A four game homestand should provide the Cardinal with ample opportunity to bolster its 3-4 Pac-10 record. With regard to the all-time series, tonight’s matchup marks the 133rd meeting between Oregon and Stanford. The Cardinal currently holds a demanding 88-44 lead over the Ducks.

Oregon used a strong defensive effort to down Oregon State in its last contest. The Ducks held Oregon State to just 24 first half points on 36.4 percent shooting to build a 11 point lead heading into the break. On the night, Oregon State shot just 38.5 percent from the floor and 25 percent from three-point range. The Ducks’ offensive attack was led by E.J. Singler, who scored 16 points and grabbed six boards. Garrett Sim scored 15 points, as did Jay-R Stowbridge, who came off the bench to convert 6-of-9 field goal attempts. The 59 points allowed was about 10 under the Ducks’ season average of 69.4 ppg allowed. While the defense is not strong, it is opportunistic, forcing 16.3 turnovers per game. The Ducks post a plus-3.5 turnover margin, only coughing the ball up 13.3 times per game. They score a solid 69.7 ppg. Joevan Catron typically leads the team in scoring at 15.4 ppg, but he has missed time recently due to a back injury. Singler has been asked to pick up the scoring slack in his stead. He scores 11.8 ppg on the year.

The Cardinal have lost three straight games and four of their last five. The most recent loss came on Saturday, as Stanford fell, 68-57, to UCLA. The Cardinal managed to shoot just 30.8 percent from the field, including 31.8 percent from three-point range on the night. Leading by one at the break, Stanford allowed UCLA to score 42 second half points . UCLA drained 17-of-21 free throw attempts over the final 20 minutes to hand Stanford the loss. Josh Owens played valiantly in defeat, posting a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards. He also handed out three assists and shot 50 percent from the field. Jeremy Green added 12 points, but his shooting effort was more indicative of the Stanford effort as a whole, as he hit just 4-of-15 attempts from the field. Anthony Brown added 10 points off the bench. Green continues to lead the Stanford attack, scoring 14.7 ppg. Josh Owens is a solid compliment, leading the team in rebounding (6.9 rpg) and coming in at second in scoring (11.8 ppg). Green and Owens receive little help, however, as the Cardinal scores just 63.4 ppg. Stanford wins games with defense, holding opponents to just 60.6 ppg.

This may be a low-scoring game, but look for Stanford to thrive due to its homecourt advantage and strong defense.

GAME NOTES: The Stanford Cardinal kick off a four game home stand tonight, hosting the Oregon Ducks in a Pac-10 Conference matchup at Maples Pavilion.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Maples Pavilion (7,329) — Stanford, California. Television: none. Home Record: Oregon 8-6, Stanford 8-1. Away Record: Oregon 1-3, Stanford 1-5. Neutral Record: Oregon 0-1, Stanford 1-2. Conference Record: Oregon 2-5, Stanford 3-4. Series Record: Stanford leads, 88-44.

Thursday, January 27th, 10:00 p.m. (et)

Stanford 64, Oregon 61

Stanford vs. UCLA, NCAA Basketball Scores: Bruins Dominate Cardinal Late In 68-57 Victory

The Stanford Cardinal blew a golden opportunity to make up some ground in the Pac-10 as they blew a 14-point lead en route to a 68-57 loss at UCLA. The Cardinal jumped out to a 22-8 lead in the first ten minutes of the game but were unable to build on the lead and eventually were left in the dust by the Bruins. UCLA rode 23 points from Malcolm Lee, 17 points off the bench from Lazeric Jones, and 16 points from Tyler Honeycutt. Stanford received double digit contributions from Josh Owens (14), Jeremy Green (12), and Anthony Brown (10).

After putting up 22 points in the first 9:30 of the first half, Stanford managed only five points the rest of the half, and saw their lead cut to 27-26 at halftime. The second half didn’t start much better as Stanford was held to a single free throw basket the first three minutes of the half. In spite of all this, Stanford actually took a 31-30 lead at the 17:08 mark.

The game remained close as Stanford tied it at 46 with 9:20 to go. However, UCLA started to press down on the gas at this point and slowly pulled away. A 14-4 run gave UCLA a ten point lead and they won the free throw battle from there on out.

The loss drops Stanford to 3-4 in conference and temporarily in seventh place in the Pac-10 standings. USC and Oregon State both stand at 3-3 with games to play tonight. USC is actually hosting a Cal team that is 2-4 in conference. UCLA improves to 5-2 in conference and is now a half game ahead of the Arizona Wildcats, who travels to Washington State tonight.

Stanford is in action again this Thursday at 7:00pm pacific as they host Oregon, who is currently in last place in the Pac-10.

Stanford Regroups To Face Surging UCLA On CBS

The Stanford Cardinal suffered their worst loss in the conference play on Thursday, but they'll need to regroup and get things together for the UCLA Bruins on a nationally televised game on CBS at the early Pacific time of 11 AM PT/2 PM ET (well, at least on the Western side of the country). UCLA is coming off an incredible victory over Cal where they blew a 14 point lead in 4 minutes (and an eight point lead in about forty seconds). The Bruins are looking to return to the NCAA tournament, and they need to win this one to really have any chance to get to the Dance, according to Bruins Nation. UCLA does not have many games left that are eminently winnable; other than the Oregon and Arizona St. matchups (which they have four of left), the Bruins are expected to either loss or play very competitive games the rest of the way.

As for Stanford, they've weathered the worse of a brutal six game stretch to open Pac-10 play, going 3-3 with an upset of the Washington Huskies and beating down their Bay Area rivals the California Golden Bears. Still, a sweep in LA would be devastating for their still slim postseason chances. The key will be to get their struggling offense going; Stanford is so close to the bottom of the Pac-10 in offensive efficiency, and it's showed on the box score--in five straight games, the Cardinal have not managed to hit sixty points. Thankfully for them, UCLA does not play the type of physical defense teams like the Washington schools and USC puts up, so opportunities for points should be there in Pauley Pavilion.

Nikola Vucevic, Jio Fontan, Alex Stepheson Power USC, Defense Shuts Down Stanford

It was all USC Trojans from start to finish as their defense totally broke apart any hopes for a big Stanford Cardinal road victory in the Galen Center. After Josh Owens nailed the opening shot, Stanford missed their next seven shots and fell behind 8-2. After Andrew Zimmermann nailed a jumper and Jeremy Green hit a free throw, the Trojans reeled off ten straight points to make it 18-5. The Trojans would lead for double digits the rest of the way and were up by as many as 34 points in the second half.

Nikola Vucevic shot 9 for 11 from the field, nailed a pair of triples, and grabbed nine rebounds to lead all Trojan scorers with 20 points. Alex Stepheson had a double double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Marcus Simmons pulled down eight boards, Jio Fontan added 12 points and Maurice Jones had seven points and three rebounds, assists and steals apiece. USC shot 56% from the field and 7 of 14 from three point range in a total team effort.

It was a total team suckfest for the Cardinal, who got nothing going anywhere. Not one Cardinal registered double digits in scoring, as Stanford shot 22% from the field and 3 of 18 from three point land. Stanford's "best" player was probably Anthony Brown with nine points; Jeremy Green (2 for 9, five points), Jarrett Mann (1 for 6, two points), Josh Huestis (2 for 6, six points) and Dwight Powell (1 for 8, three points).

Stanford moves onto face UCLA on Saturday night in Pauley Pavilion. For more coverage, go to Rule of Tree for Stanford insight or Conquest Chronicles for Trojan reaction.

Stanford 2011 Basketball Schedule: Pac-10 Regular Season Action

The Stanford Cardinal head down to LA to battle USC tonight in a pivotal matchup with postseason implications. Stanford is currently 10-6 overall and 3-2 in the Pac-10. USC is 10-8 and 2-3 in the Pac-10. Both teams did not face too many impressive opponents in their non-conference schedule, and their RPI has suffered accordingly. Stanford is 97th overall, while USC is 84th.

As February approaches, the battle will heat up as teams attempt to better position themselves for the Pac-10 tournament in March. Washington and Arizona appear to be the two teams that will pull away in the regular season standings and get the top two seeds. Neither team has established complete separation from the rest of the conference, but I wouldn't be surprised if those two squads were two or three games up on the next best teams when we get into late February.

Tonight, Stanford will look to build a little separation for themselves on the rest of the bottom half of the Pac-10. UCLA, who is currently tied with Stanford for third place, will be hosting Cal tonight and both Stanford and UCLA will look to gain an edge on the other team. Washington State is a half game back of Stanford, but has the tiebreaker at the moment courtesy of a huge road win at Maples Pavilion.

SPORTS NETWORK GAME NOTES: Few teams in the Pac-10 are capable of playing as well at the defensive end as Stanford has thus far, as the team is limiting opponents to 59.8 ppg on 40.7 percent shooting from the floor. Unfortunately, the offensive attack of the Cardinal is rather weak, as they are generating a modest 65.1 ppg on 43.3 percent field goal efficiency. Jeremy Green is the leading scorer for Stanford through 16 outings, as he is netting 15.5 ppg despite 39.4 percent field goal efficiency. Josh Owens, the only other double-digit scorer on the roster, is a 60.3 percent shooter who provides 12.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Stanford shot just 34.4 percent from the field in the narrow loss to Washington State last weekend, including an 8-of-25 showing from three-point range. Green scored 13 points in that affair, but his 5-of-16 effort from the floor left much to be desired. Owens and Anthony Brown tallied 12 points apiece.

Through 18 outings, USC is scoring 68.1 ppg while limiting opponents to 63.3 ppg on 40.9 percent field goal efficiency. The Trojans are led by Nikola Vucevic, who has started every contest thus far and is netting 16.4 ppg while ripping down 10.1 rpg. Jio Fontan, a transfer from Fordham, has started all eight games since becoming eligible and is posting 13.1 ppg. As for Maurice Jones, who has handed out 67 assists, his output of 10.3 ppg would be significantly higher if not for 35.2 percent shooting from the floor. In the four-point loss to Oregon State last time out, Vucevic put forth a tremendous effort, shooting 12-of-18 from the field and finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Fontan added 14 points and six assists, and while Jones finished with 10 points, his 2-of-11 shooting effort from the floor was poor. The most obvious contributing factor in the loss was a 27-7 deficit in points from the foul line.

The edge goes to USC tonight, as it figures to do just enough to get past Stanford. Clearly, both of these teams have some room for improvement.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Galen Center (10,258) -- Los Angeles, California. Television: None. Home Record: Stanford 8-1, USC 8-2. Away Record: Stanford 1-3, USC 1-5. Neutral Record: Stanford 1-2, USC 1-1. Conference Record: Stanford 3-2, USC 2-3. Series Record: USC leads, 119-118.

Thursday, January 20th, 10:30 p.m. (et)

Sports Network Prediction: USC 70, Stanford 66