PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — In a season-opening showcase of offensive firepower, the Stanford Cardinal outlasted a persistent Portland State Vikings squad 89-79 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Tuesday night at Maples Pavilion.

A crowd of 2,300 watched as Stanford, led by a dominant 26-point performance from Ebuka Okorie, used a second-half surge to pull away and secure the victory in a contest that featured 10 ties and 15 lead changes.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with neither team able to build a substantial advantage. Portland State’s Sebastian Tidor and Stanford’s Okorie traded baskets early, setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle. The Vikings, utilizing an aggressive offensive approach, managed to keep pace with the heavily favored Cardinal. Stanford took a narrow 37-30 lead into the halftime break, but the outcome was far from decided.

The second half saw Portland State erupt for 49 points, refusing to let Stanford create significant separation. Tidor continued his scoring barrage, finishing with 22 points, while backcourt partner Jaylin Henderson added 19 points and four assists. Every time Stanford threatened to build a double-digit lead, the Vikings answered with a critical basket, often from Terri Miller, who chipped in 14 points and four assists.

However, Stanford’s offensive depth ultimately proved too much. While Okorie was the primary catalyst, he received crucial support from Chisom Okpara, who scored 21 points, and a balanced attack from the backcourt. Benny Gealer contributed 12 points and Jeremy Dent-Smith added 14, providing the secondary scoring needed to withstand Portland State’s challenges.

A key sequence midway through the second half saw Stanford finally create a cushion. Leading by just four points, the Cardinal engineered a 10-2 run, capped by a Gealer three-pointer assisted by Okorie, to push their lead to 67-55 with just over seven minutes remaining. Portland State would cut the deficit to six points on multiple occasions down the stretch, but could get no closer as Stanford executed in the final minutes and converted from the free-throw line to seal the game.

Defensively, Stanford’s AJ Rohosy made his presence felt without scoring in volume, pulling down seven rebounds and recording a block. For Portland State, TreVaughn Minott matched Rohosy’s seven-rebound effort.

With the win, Stanford begins its season 1-0. The Cardinal are next scheduled to host Montana on Saturday. Portland State, which falls to 0-1, will look for its first victory when it returns home to face Northwest Indian on Friday. The game’s total score of 168 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 143.