Stanford overcomes slow start to topple Denver 85-62

Oziyah Sellers led four players in double figures with a career-high 24 points, Maxime Raynaud delivered with a double-double and Stanford earned an 85-62 victory over visiting Denver on Monday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.Raynaud, a preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, compiled 16 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and six assists for the Cardinal (1-0), who rewarded head coach Kyle Smith with a win in his Stanford debut.Sebastian Akins paced the Pioneers (0-1) with 15 points off the bench.A 17-17 team a year ago, Denver took an 18-17 lead just past the midway point of the first half on two free throws by Nicholas Shogbonyo.The Pioneers hung within 21-20 after a Ben Bowen layup with 7:33 remaining in the first half before Stanford closed the period on a 17-2 run. Sellers and Benny Gealer contributed 3-pointers to the flurry, while Raynaud chipped in with a three-point play.Stanford led 38-22 at halftime and coasted home, riding 49.2-percent shooting. Sellers, a transfer from Southern California, finished 10-for-15 from the floor to lead the way, while Gealer connected on four of his six 3-point attempts. Sellers added seven rebounds.Stanford’s biggest lead was 27 points with just over two minutes remaining.

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