Ebuka Okorie aims to maintain his impressive performance as Stanford prepares to host Seattle University at Maples Pavilion on Friday. Currently, Okorie ranks third nationally and leads all freshmen with an impressive average of 25.5 points per game. He recently tallied 26 points during a decisive 93-66 victory over Louisiana, marking the fourth consecutive game where he has scored over 20 points at the start of his collegiate career.
Stanford head coach Kyle Smith praised Okorie’s growth, stating, “That was probably his best floor game. Obviously, he scored, he seems to score all the time. But you’re starting to see the extra pass, starting to see the guys on a roll… The better he gets, the better the next guy gets. It’s been fun to watch.”
In the same game against Louisiana, Chisom Okpara contributed significantly with 22 points and five rebounds, while Cameron Grant added 15 points, shooting 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. The Cardinal, now boasting a 4-0 record, are looking to conclude their five-game homestand with another win.
Coach Smith reflected on the performance against Louisiana, highlighting the competitive nature of the first half: “I was very pleased with the way we played tonight. The first 10 minutes were very competitive, and they’re tough.”
On the other side, the Redhawks of Seattle University, who possess a 3-1 record, enter this matchup having won their last two games. They recently achieved a 94-67 victory against Eastern Washington on November 12 and followed that up with an 83-74 win over Idaho State, a game where both teams scored 40 points in the second half.
Seattle head coach Chris Victor commended his team for their resilience, noting, “We went up 19 points, and I think there were 11 minutes to go and a timeout… We’ve got to give Idaho State credit, they fought the whole game.” Brayden Maldonado, who leads the Redhawks with an average of 23.3 points per game, scored 22 points along with two rebounds and six assists against Idaho State, while Jojo Murphy came off the bench to score 14 points.
Seattle’s past performance on the road has been a challenge, finishing last season with a 4-11 record. However, Stanford has been formidable at home, racking up a 17-3 record last season and winning five straight games at Maples Pavilion to begin the 2024-25 season. With both teams showing promising performances, fans can anticipate an exciting matchup on Friday.