Stanford (20-12) used late game heroics from all five on the court to defeat Cal (14-19) 78-73 in the second round of the ACC Tournament and complete the season sweep.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told me after the game that this was the best ACC Tournament game he has watched in a long time. And it may have been a little too good, for my health’s sake.
Clinging to a 1 point lead in the game’s final minute, Stanford committed a live ball turnover. Cal quickly got the ball up the court, finding a red-hot Andrej Stojakovic for a three point attempt. When he caught the ball, Maxime Raynaud was still at midcourt. But by the time Stojakovic rose up, the Stanford center came flying in from behind to get just enough of his fingertips on the ball to send the shot careening aside.
The loose ball quickly was redirected up the court where Chisom Okpara converted a three point play to all but seal the victory.
The Cardinal entered the game having taken both the regular season meetings between the schools. Cal was also down a pair of guards, including ACC Sixth Man of the Year Jeremiah Wilkinson. But this game was never going to be easy.
“We knew going in that obviously we beat them twice before, but there was a lot of pride on the line,” said Jaylen Blakes.
Often in these tournaments, the team that has already played a game will open up clicking on all cylinders. Today was no different. Andrej Stojakovic, the Cal star and former Stanford guard, made his first 7 attempts from the field and had 16 points by the 10 minute mark of the first half.
The Stanford coaching staff was audibly frustrated, and put an extra emphasis on slowing down Andrej. The Cardinal did just that in the final 10 minutes of the half, using a 9-0 run and extended 24-10 stretch to take a 6 point lead into the break. Andrej did not score another point in the period.
Out of the break, Cal chipped away at Stanford, and took the lead back at the 12 minute mark. Andrej woke back up, and reserve guard DJ Campbell, who had shot all of 33% from the field and 23% from three on the year, started to really heat up. The game entered the final minutes as the two teams exchanged impressive shot making.
“I think a lot of times when it comes to close games towards the end of the games, the more together team usually wins,” said Jaylen Blakes.
Kyle Smith has preached that level of togetherness all year. His pillars of faith, family, and team are seen at all levels of the program.
“At Stanford, we have to out-team people,” said Coach Smith.
The final five for Stanford featured a trio of starters in Maxime Raynaud, Jaylen Blakes, and Oziyah Sellers. But Benny Gealer and Chisom Okpara were playing excellent ball off the bench, and closed out the game for the Cardinal.
With two minutes on the clock, trailing by a point, Stanford pushed the ball off a missed Campbell jumper, finding Oziyah Sellers for a quick-trigger three and a 68-66 lead. On the very next possession and with the game tied, Benny Gealer tracked down an offensive rebound well out of his area, and later in the fresh possession ultimately made a deep three of his own.
One stop later and the stage was set for Maxime’s defensive heroics.
“When it comes to the end of games, a lot of teams scurry away and think they have to be a hero,” said Jaylen Blakes. “But in those games where you hit big shots, everybody is taking that shot with you.”
All five players who ended the game for Stanford tonight made their share of big shots. Jaylen Blakes had a knack for making a shot when the Cardinal most needed it. But he was effusive in his praise of the whole lineup.
“Everybody who comes in the game is built for the moment,” said Blakes. “It doesn't just happen in that moment, it happened in practice.”
Stanford was led by the 23 points and 8 rebounds from All-ACC First Team center Maxime Raynaud. Jaylen Blakes added an efficient 21 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Oziyah Sellers scored 13, and Chisom Okpara chipped in 12 off the bench on 5-5 from the field.
Cal was led by the career-high 37 points of Andrej Stojakovic. Stanford threw a number of different looks and defenders at him, but nothing seemed to slow him.
“I was like, I think we'll contain [Stojakovic],” said Kyle Smith. “At some point we might get back in this thing. But I was wrong. He kept it going. We had to block his shot from behind, that was the best way to stop him.”
This marked the Cardinal's first 3-0 season against Cal since 1962, and moved Stanford’s winning streak in the series to 5, their longest since 2006.
Stanford will face second-seeded Louisville in tomorrow’s quarterfinal.
“We have a goal in mind, and it's not just to get one win,” said Jaylen Blakes.