Jaylen Blakes’ game-winner lifts Stanford over Santa Clara

NCAA Basketball: ACC TipoffOct 9, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Stanford player Jaylen Blakes during ACC Media Days at The Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Jaylen Blakes buried a tiebreaking jumper with two seconds remaining, Maxime Raynaud poured in a game-high 32 points and visiting Stanford remained unbeaten with a 71-69 victory over Santa Clara in a nonconference matchup game Saturday night.

Blakes’ heroics came after a series of missed free throws in the final 1:09 following an Oziyah Sellers 3-pointer that had drawn the Cardinal (6-0) even at 67-all.

Adama-Alpha Bal put the Broncos (2-4) back on top by making one of two free throws, after which Raynaud countered from the interior to give Stanford a 69-68 lead with 32 seconds to play.

After Bal missed from point-blank range, Blakes bricked a free throw and Raynaud couldn’t convert a second-chance shot, leaving Santa Clara with another chance.

This time, Christoph Tilly made just one of two foul shots, tying the score with eight seconds left and setting up a Stanford timeout, after which Blakes buried the eventual game-winner.

Down by as many as 11 in the first half and 10 at the break, Stanford scored the first 12 points after halftime to take its first lead at 39-37. Raynaud and Sellers each had two- and 3-point hoops in the run, which led to a tightly contested second half.

Raynaud complemented his 32 points with a season-high 16 rebounds, 10 of which were offensive boards. He came within one point of matching his season-best point total, which he set in a 79-65 win at U.C. Davis last Sunday.

Sellers provided plenty of support with 23 points, while Blakes finished with eight points, a game-high 10 assists and four steals.

Sellers (three) and Raynaud (two) combined for all five of Stanford’s 3-point baskets. The Cardinal shot 5-of-13 from distance (38.5 percent), while Santa Clara finished just 4-of-19 beyond the arc (21.1 percent).

Playing on the road for the first time this season, Stanford won despite making just 10 of its 21 free throws. Santa Clara went 21-for-26 but missed two of its last three.

Tilly paced the Broncos with 16 points, while Carlos Stewart Jr. had 11 and Bal 10 to go with a team-high-tying five rebounds.

–Field Level Media

#Jaylen #Blakes #gamewinner #lifts #Stanford #Santa #Clara

More From Author

Rivals Rankings Week: Roundtable on the 2025 rankings

Sabres take lead in third period, hold on to top Sharks