In an intense showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Stanford men's basketball faced off against West Virginia in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown, ultimately falling in a nail-biting overtime, 82-77. This marks the end of the season for the Cardinal, who wrapped up with a solid 20-13 record.
Ebuka Okorie was the star of the night, dropping an impressive 34 points on 13-for-23 shooting, along with five assists. This performance not only marked his eighth 30-point game of the season but also set a new ACC freshman record, surpassing Duke’s Marvin Bagley III. Okorie finishes his season as Stanford's third all-time in total points and second in scoring average.
Supporting Okorie, Aidan Cammann contributed 12 points, while AJ Rohosy added 10 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Agarwal and Benny Gealer also made their presence felt, with Agarwal scoring eight points and grabbing eight rebounds, and Gealer scoring six points and securing seven rebounds. Gealer's performance also moved him to fourth on Stanford’s single-season 3-pointers list with 85.
Stanford dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 47 boards to West Virginia's 37, including 16 on the offensive glass. They also held West Virginia to a mere 2-for-20 from three-point range, showcasing their defensive prowess.
The Cardinal took their first lead of the game at 15-13 in the first half, thanks to a Cammann three-pointer that capped a 7-0 run. Okorie's 11 first-half points kept Stanford in the hunt, though they trailed 35-29 at halftime.
In the second half, Okorie turned up the heat, scoring 21 points and being involved in 11 of Stanford’s 14 field goals. The Cardinal held a promising 67-59 lead with just over three minutes remaining, but West Virginia mounted a comeback, sending the game into overtime.
Agarwal briefly put Stanford ahead in the extra period, but West Virginia answered back with a decisive 9-2 run. Despite having chances to tie the game in the final minute, Stanford's shots didn't fall, allowing the Mountaineers to secure the win.
This season marked Stanford's second consecutive postseason appearance, a feat they hadn’t achieved since 2012-15. Under Coach Smith’s leadership, the team has won 20 or more games in his first two seasons, joining an elite group of ACC teams like Duke and North Carolina to maintain a .500 or better record in consecutive seasons.