Stanford @ San Jose St. preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 18, 2018 ) San Jose St. 73, Stanford 78

Off to its best start since 2011, Stanford plays its first true road game of the season on Saturday against San Jose State. Junior forward Oscar da Silva is averaging 16.6 points and 5.3 points to lead the Cardinal, who are playing for the first time in nearly two weeks due to finals.

The 6-9, 225-pound da Silva scored a career-high 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting in a 72-54 win over UNC Wilmington on Dec. 1 as Stanford bounced back from a 68-67 loss to Butler at the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City. “We were trying to double da Silva, but sometimes he makes too quick a move,” UNC Wilmington coach C.B. McGrath told reporters. “When we did double him a couple times, they did a nice job of being unselfish, making an extra pass and getting a wide-open look. You’ve got to pick your poison. We knew he'd be a tough matchup.” Two other players are averaging in double figures for the Cardinal - including point guard Tyrell Terry, who is making an early case for Pac-12 Freshman of the Year while starting all nine games. Terry is averaging 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT STANFORD (8-1): Coach Jerod Haase continues to be impressed by the development of freshman forward Spencer Jones (11.2 points), who made five 3-pointers and scored 17 points against UNC Wilmington and has averaged 14.3 points over the last three games. Jones is shooting 54.7 percent beyond the arc to lead the Cardinal, whose eight victories have all come by double digits. Junior guard Daejon Davis is off to a slow start offensively at eight points per game - 11.4 points in 26 contests in 2018-19 - but remains a strong presence on the defensive end (2.1 steals).

ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE (3-7): Sophomore guard Seneca Knight is averaging 12.6 points on 44.6 percent shooting to lead the Spartans, who have dropped five straight but remain encouraged despite opening Mountain West play with back-to-back losses last week. Picked to finish last in the conference preseason poll, San Jose State lost 71-59 to Utah State before facing unbeaten San Diego State, which needed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to escape with a 59-57 win. Sophomore forward Christian Anigwe averages 6.4 rebounds for the Spartans, who won four games in each of the past two seasons.

TIP-INS

1. The Cardinal notched a 78-73 win over the Spartans last season and own a 39-13 lead in the all-time series.

2. Stanford is shooting 41.2 percent from 3-point range while San Jose State is at 27.4 percent.

3. The Cardinal lead the Pac-12 in scoring defense (57.7 points).

PREDICTION: Stanford 68, San Jose State 53