SAN JOSE, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and a relentless second-half surge from the home team, the Stanford Cardinal survived a furious comeback attempt by San Jose State to escape the Event Center with an 86-82 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday night.

Stanford, which improved to 8-2, appeared poised to run away with the contest early, building a double-digit lead in the first half behind sharp shooting and capitalizing on its significant size advantage. The Cardinal led 44-36 at halftime, having connected on 9 of 18 attempts from three-point range in the opening period. Jeremy Dent-Smith and Chisom Okpara each hit a pair of threes in the first half to help establish the cushion.

The second half, however, transformed into a showcase for San Jose State’s Yaphet Moundi and Colby Garland. The Spartans, now 5-6, chipped away at the deficit with a more aggressive defensive posture that fueled their offense. San Jose State forced 19 Stanford turnovers in the game, converting them into 21 points, and outscored the Cardinal 46-42 after the break.

Moundi, a 6-foot-8 forward from Paris, was nearly unstoppable, scoring 20 of his game-high 26 points in the second half. His array of post moves and finishes at the rim kept constant pressure on the Stanford defense. Garland, the Spartans’ 6-foot guard from Magnolia, Arkansas, orchestrated the comeback attempt, finishing with 20 points and nine assists, repeatedly breaking down the Cardinal defense to create opportunities for himself and others, most notably Moundi.

Despite San Jose State’s charge, Stanford’s offensive execution, particularly in the half-court, proved the difference. The Cardinal shot a blistering 60.9% from the field (28 of 46) for the game and posted an offensive rating of 126.9 points per 100 possessions. They countered every Spartan run with a critical basket, often from close range, finishing with 38 points in the paint.

Okpara, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Bronxville, New York, led Stanford with 20 points and five assists, providing a steadying influence. Forward AJ Rohosy, from San Anselmo, California, also scored 20 points on efficient 9-of-11 shooting, while Dent-Smith added 16 points. Ryan Agarwal contributed 11 points for the Cardinal.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute with Stanford clinging to a precarious lead. After a Moundi layup off a Garland assist brought San Jose State within two points at 82-80 with 28 seconds remaining, Stanford’s Aidan Cammann secured a critical steal from Moundi on the ensuing inbound play. Stanford guard Benny Gealer was then fouled and calmly sank both free throws with 3 seconds left to seal the four-point victory, the final margin.

San Jose State’s Adrian Myers provided a strong supporting performance with 14 points and two blocks. The Spartans shot 45.3% from the field but were hampered by their 6-of-17 shooting from beyond the arc, unable to match Stanford’s perimeter accuracy.

A crowd of 2,745 at the Event Center saw the Spartans battle back from a deficit that reached 13 points in the first half, only to fall short in the final seconds against their Bay Area rival. Stanford now leads the all-time series between the programs.

Stanford next hosts Texas-Arlington on Wednesday. San Jose State travels to face New Mexico next Saturday.