Stanford started the game with strong three-point shooting and finished it with solid free-throw shooting, dropping No. 1-ranked Kansas University, 64-58, Saturday at The Pond in Anaheim.
The loss was KU’s first under head coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks’ first loss in the Wooden Classic.
The Cardinal’s Matt Lottich started the scoring with a three-pointer and a free throw after being fouled by Keith Langford. Lottich hit two more three-pointers in the first half, as Stanford (4-0) never trailed before intermission.
The Jayhawks (3-1) shot poorly in the first half, but cut the Cardinal’s lead from 12 points to four over the final four minutes of the first half with a short run.
Jeff Hawkins fouled Chris Hernandez on a desperation three-pointer with less than a second left in the half, though, and Hernandez hit all three foul shots, giving No. 21 Stanford a 36-29 halftime lead.
David Padgett cut the deficit to five points with a dunk almost two minutes into the second half, and Aaron Miles hit a deep jumper on the next possession. Neither team could score for a couple minutes, but Nick Robinson extended Stanford’s lead to five points with a dunk nearly four minutes into the half.
KU again cut the lead to three points on a tip-in by Simien off a J.R. Giddens miss, but Rob Little answered with a dunk. Simien scored again on the next play, though, before Justin Davis hit a reverse layup.
Jeff Graves again drew KU within three points on put-back basket eight minutes in, but Jason Haas hit a basket and free throw after being fouled, extending Stanford’s lead to six points.
KU’s strength of the day — free-throw shooting — drew the Jayhawks within two points, 45-43, after a pair of foul shots by both Simien and Miles.
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Langford missed a pair of free throws on KU’s next possession, but made up for the mistake by stealing the ball and scoring while being fouled on the next play. Langford’s free throw gave KU a 46-45 lead.
Lottich answered with a three-pointer just a few seconds later, and Stanford then forced a shot-clock violation against KU. After a media timeout, Matt Harasyz gave the Cardinal a four-point lead on a put-back.
The Jayhawks drew within two points with 4:30 left on two free throws by Graves, and Simien tied with with a pair of foul shots just a few seconds later.
Once again, though, Lottich gave Stanford the lead, this time with two free throws. Aaron Miles closed the deficit to just a point with a free throw, but Lottich extended it with another three-pointer and KU couldn’t come back.
Miles led KU with 11 points, but had just four assists. Langford had 10 points and five rebounds, and Simien had 10 points and seven rebounds. Padgett scored seven points, Graves had six and Hawkins had five points. Bryant Nash had four points, J.R. Giddens hit two free throws and grabbed six rebounds, and Omar Wilkes hit a late, meaningless three-pointer.
Lottich had 18 points, five rebounds and four assists for Stanford. Joe Kirchofer scored 10 points, and Chris Hernandez had 11 points — all from the foul line. Robinson had seven points, and Davis had seven points and nine rebounds.
KU was 18-of-49 shooting, including 3-of-20 from three-point range, and was 19-of-23 from the charity stripe. Stanford was 17-of-52 shooting from the field, including 5-of-16 from beyond the arc. The Cardinal were 25-of-31 from the free-throw line.
The Jayhawks turned the ball over 19 times, and Stanford had 17 turnovers. Each team had 36 rebounds, but Stanford has twice as many assists (12) as Kansas (6).
All stats are unofficial
