STANFORD, Calif. (Interstat) — Ebuka Okorie scored a career-high 34 points and Stanford used a dominant second-half surge to overcome a gritty Pittsburgh team 75-67 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Maples Pavilion.

The Cardinal, improving to 17-11, trailed by two at halftime but outscored the Panthers 43-33 after the break, fueled by Okorie’s offensive brilliance and a defensive effort that generated key turnovers.

The most important part of the game was a decisive 15-2 Stanford run midway through the second half that turned a tight contest into a comfortable lead. With Pittsburgh clinging to a 49-47 advantage after a Barry Dunning 3-pointer with 12:50 to play, the Cardinal locked down defensively. Stanford forced three Pittsburgh turnovers over the next three minutes, converting them into easy transition opportunities. Okorie was the catalyst, scoring eight points during the burst, including a driving layup and a 3-pointer. The run was capped by an Aidan Cammann tip-in, pushing Stanford’s lead to 62-51 with 8:21 remaining and effectively seizing control of the game. Pittsburgh never got closer than six points the rest of the way.

Okorie, a guard from Nashua, New Hampshire, was efficient and relentless, adding six assists to his point total. He shot 10 for 10 from the free-throw line, part of a perfect night at the stripe for Stanford as a team. His performance overshadowed a strong outing from Pittsburgh’s Cameron Corhen, who led the Panthers with 22 points.

Pittsburgh (10-18) controlled much of the first half, leading by as many as seven points before taking a 34-32 lead into the locker room. Corhen, a 6-foot-10 forward from Allen, Texas, was effective inside, while Dunning contributed 19 points. The Panthers, however, were undone by 12 turnovers, which Stanford converted into 15 points, and a stark disparity in assists, with the Cardinal posting nine to Pittsburgh’s six.

Stanford’s offensive balance proved crucial. Benny Gealer scored 12 points, while Cammann and Jaylen Thompson added 11 and eight points, respectively. Thompson also contributed three blocks defensively. The Cardinal shot 50% from the field for the game and posted an offensive rating of 121.5 on 62 possessions, showcasing their efficiency down the stretch.

Pittsburgh shot respectably at 49% but managed only six assists on 24 made field goals, indicative of a offense that often relied on individual creation. The Panthers also missed five of their 15 free-throw attempts.

The game, organized by the Atlantic Coast Conference as part of the ACC’s scheduling alliance, drew a crowd of 3,771. Stanford entered as a 7.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and the combined score of 142 fell under the projected total of 136.

Stanford, which had lost its previous two games on the road, returns to action at home against SMU on Saturday. Pittsburgh, which had won its last outing against Notre Dame, continues its West Coast trip at California on Saturday.