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Stanford Cardinal Narrowly Outscored at Galen Center by USC Trojans

In a closely contested battle at the Galen Center, the Stanford Cardinal fell to the USC Trojans with a final score of 85-75. The game saw both teams locked in a tight struggle, with the home team ultimately securing victory. The Stanford Cardinal's season record now stands at an even split, while the USC Trojans have edged ahead.


Dec 3, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Benny Gealer (15) dribbles the basketball against the San Diego Toreros during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

The Stanford Cardinal displayed commendable effort on the court. Their offensive plays were highlighted by sinking 8 out of 20 three-point attempts, translating to a solid 40 percent success rate from beyond the arc. Inside, they were just as assertive, accumulating 38 points in the paint and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities to add another 13 points to their tally.


Defensively, however, it was a challenging night for Stanford as they managed only one block throughout the game compared to two from their opponents. Despite this disparity at defense, both teams ended up with an equal number of total rebounds at 31 each. The Cardinal's defensive efforts did result in seven steals which is on par with what USC achieved.


On offense for Stanford, ball distribution was evident as they racked up 16 assists over the course of play but also turned over possession twelve times which led to twelve points off turnovers for their adversaries. Their free throw accuracy was notable too; hitting approximately 73 percent from the line showed proficiency in capitalizing on fouls drawn during play.


The opposing USC Trojans demonstrated slightly better efficiency in shooting overall with nearly half (49 percent) of their field goals finding their mark and an impressive performance from three-point range where they netted more than half (52 percent) of their attempts. They also excelled at converting free throws into points by making around 88 percent of those shots.


USC's fast-paced game yielded them fifteen fast break points and sixteen points off turnovers due to ten takeaways from Stanford players. Moreover, despite one player being fouled out during play – something that didn't occur within The Cardinal ranks – it did not significantly hinder them as they maintained control throughout most aspects of gameplay including leading assists turnover ratio by approximately two.


As fans look forward toward future matchups for The Stanford Cardinal men's basketball team will return home to Maples Pavilion where they are scheduled to face Washington State Cougars on February 23rd at eight PM Pacific Time. This encounter can be viewed live on Pac-12 Network for those eager supporters who wish follow along as events unfold courtside.

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