In a nail-biting encounter on Saturday night, Stanford University outshone North Carolina State in a thrilling college basketball match, clinching a narrow 74-73 victory. Leading the triumph was Stanford’s prominent player, Maxime Raynaud, who starred with a career-defining performance, scoring 25 points and making a significant 12 rebounds. This match highlighted Raynaud's impressive seasonal record, marking his 20th double-double, and securing his place in school history.
Adding to the excitement was Ryan Agarwal, who made the decisive basket with just eight seconds on the clock, delivering a spectacular victory for the Cardinal in front of a buzzing home crowd. This win intensifies Stanford’s strong presence in the Atlantic Coast Conference, boosting their lineup to 16-8 overall and 8-5 in the conference.
The final moments of the game were packed with drama. Maxime Raynaud smoothly scored two free throws, setting Stanford ahead at 65-59 with five minutes remaining. However, NC State was not ready to back down. Dontrez Styles closed the gap with a critical three-pointer followed by Ismael Diouf’s layup, level the score to 71-71, adding to the tension with just 50 seconds left on the clock.
As the clock ticked down, Aidan Cammann put Stanford slightly ahead with a free throw, setting up a precarious lead. NC State's player, Parker, provided a second-chance layup, surging his team ahead by one point with only 17 seconds left. It was then that Agarwal emerged as the hero, skillfully maneuvering down the lane for the game-changing basket, leading his team to victory as Parker's last-second attempt at a three-pointer narrowly missed.
Raynaud’s exceptional scoring spree continued into the second half as he amassed 21 points, driving a comeback engine and overturning a halftime deficit of 33-29. Raynaud’s sharp shooting saw him deliver on 9 of 16 shots, complemented by an immaculate 7-for-7 on free throws.
Other notable contributions for Stanford came from Oziyah Sellers, who added 12 points, and the bench support of Chisom Okpara and Evan Stinson, both chipping in 10 points. Agarwal wasn't just a scorer; he played a pivotal all-round role with nine points, dishing out eight assists and securing seven rebounds.
For NC State, Parker led with an impressive display off the bench, hitting five three-pointers and tallying 19 points. His efforts included five assists, reinforcing NC State's offensive strategy. Teammates Styles and Marcus Hill also made significant contributions, scoring 18 and 14 points respectively. Despite Parker's scoring efficiency, going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc in the first half, NC State couldn’t sustain their initial lead.
Looking ahead, Stanford’s next encounter takes them to Georgia Tech on Wednesday, aiming to capitalize on their current momentum. Meanwhile, NC State is set to host Louisville, hoping to overturn their eight-game losing streak.