The Stanford Cardinal were looking to pack their bags for the Big Apple and the final four of the 2012 NIT Tournament at Madison Square Garden, but the Nevada Wolf Pack were hungry to do the same. And after a well-rounded first half from the Cardinal, Stanford finds themselves one half away, taking a lead into halftime at Maples Pavilion.
Only two Stanford players didn't get on the board in the first half, led by Josh Huestis' nine points and Aaron Bright's seven. Josh Owens, Andrew Zimmerman, Dwight Powell and Chasson Randle all had six in the first half as well.
As for the Wolf Pack, Malik Story and Deonte Burton led the way with nine and six respectfully, shooting only 36 percent from the floor as a team compared to the 65 percent clip of the Cardinal. If this keeps up, the Cardinal could be thinking about what ensembles to pack for their trip to New York City.
For more on the Cardinal, make sure to check out Rule of Tree, SB Nation's dedicated Stanford blog.