Dec. 16, 1997

Stanford Gets 63-42 Victory

Kris Weems

SAN DIEGO (AP) - No. 9 Stanford got few style points for its 21-point win over outmanned San Diego State.

In fact, both teams had season-low point totals as the Cardinal won 63-42 Tuesday night.

"We probably should have beat them by more but it's hard to argue with a 21-point win," Kris Weems said after he led the lethargic Cardinal (6-0) with 11 points.

Stanford had a decent excuse - due to final exams, it hadn't played since beating No. 20 Georgia 76-74 in the Wooden Classic on Dec. 6 at Anaheim.

"Let's face it, we just didn't play well," coach Mike Montgomery said. "Ten days off, we didn't shoot very well. ... It's not real artistic but it was a win on the road and we'll take it."

The Cardinal shot just 40.3 percent while holding San Diego State to 30.2 percent. Stanford made just 5 of 25 shots from behind the 3-point line.

Last year at Stanford, the Cardinal handed San Diego State its worst loss ever, 97-50.

Tim Young and Ryan Mendez scored 10 apiece for Stanford, which is 6-0 for the first time since 1994-95, when it won its first 10 games. Mark Madsen, who leads the Cardinal with a 17-point average, scored just six points but led all players with 10 rebounds.

Jason Richey scored 21 points and was the only player in double figures for San Diego State (3-5). Because of injuries and academic problems, the Aztecs dressed only eight players.

The much taller Cardinal had no trouble dominating the Aztecs.

San Diego State missed its first 13 shots and didn't break double digits until Josko Visnjic hit a 17-foot jumper with 1:27 to play in the first half to make it 27-11.

The halftime score was only 27-14, a season-low for both teams. Stanford shot 31.4 percent in the half, while the Aztecs shot 22.2 percent.

"I felt like we were getting good shots in the first half, but they just weren't going down," Montgomery said. "I guess it's just a combination of the time off, being rusty, and I also thought they played some good defense on us."

The closest San Diego State got in the second half was 29-18 after the opening minute.

The Cardinal kept a comfortable margin by hitting four 3-point shots in a span of less than six minutes midway through the second half, including two by Mendez.

San Diego State didn't take its first free throw until 4:42 left in the second half.

"We needed it called a little closer," Aztecs coach Fred Trenkle said. "The physical nature of the game made it harder for us to compete since we're so shorthanded. It took its toll on us."

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