The University of San Francisco and Stanford men’s basketball teams both opened their home slates with decisive victories on Friday night, securing their second consecutive wins of the season. USF defeated visiting North Dakota State 79-70, powered by a balanced offensive attack led by Ben Oosterbaan and reserve Andrew Hilman. Both players scored 22 points, with Hilman adding eight rebounds and Oosterbaan grabbing seven. The Dons established early momentum, as Oosterbaan erupted for 15 points in the first half to propel USF to a commanding 45-31 lead at the break. Ndewedo Newbury contributed 11 points to support the duo, ensuring the home crowd left with a comfortable 2-0 start.
Oosterbaan and Townsend power victories as Cardinal, Dons control pace from tip-off.
In the Bay Area’s other notable matchup, the Stanford Cardinal dismantled Oakland 81-63 to improve to 2-0. Nick Townsend anchored the offense with a game-high 25 points, while Christian Bliss provided a crucial spark off the bench, draining four 3-pointers to finish with 17 points. Aidan Cammann added 13 points for Stanford, which led 38-33 at halftime before pulling away decisively in the second half. The Cardinal’s defensive pressure forced Oakland into a shooting slump, as the Golden Grizzlies went 1-for-9 from deep and 9-for-18 from the free-throw line after intermission, sealing Stanford’s dominant home performance.
Key takeaways from Friday’s slate highlight the depth and efficiency of both USF and Stanford rosters. USF’s ability to distribute scoring between its starters and reserves, particularly Hilman’s 22-point outing, signals a versatile offensive identity for the Dons. Meanwhile, Stanford’s bench production, led by Bliss, proved to be the differentiator against Oakland, whose struggles from the perimeter and foul line ultimately proved fatal. With both programs now 2-0, these victories establish a strong foundation for their respective conference schedules, showcasing their capacity to control tempo and execute under home-court pressure.
Source: Yahoo Sports
