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Stanford Upsets NC State, Bolsters NCAA Tournament Hopes
Cardinal's hustle plays and free throw shooting down the stretch key in 85-84 road win.
Published on Mar. 7, 2026
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Stanford may have played its way into the NCAA tournament with a narrow 85-84 road victory over NC State to close out the regular season. The Cardinal, led by the hustle plays and late free throw shooting of D-II transfer Jeremy Dent-Smith, overcame a free throw disparity to earn a crucial Quad 1 win that could be the difference in securing a tournament bid.
Why it matters
Stanford was listed as one of the "next four out" of the NCAA tournament field heading into the game. The win over NC State, a quality opponent, gives the Cardinal a fifth Quad 1 victory this season, which could be the deciding factor in earning an at-large bid over other bubble teams with fewer big wins.
The details
Stanford head coach Kyle Smith's "Nerd Ball" style of play paid off, as the Cardinal hustled for 15 offensive rebounds and made clutch shots late despite losing the free throw battle 34-11. Dent-Smith, a D-II transfer, scored Stanford's final four points from the line to seal the win after the Cardinal had lost five of six games earlier in the season following an injury to key player Chisom Okpara.
- Stanford closed out the regular season with the win over NC State on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
- The Cardinal had lost five of six games in January and February after Okpara's injury, but then won their final four regular season games.
The players
Kyle Smith
Stanford's head coach who coined the term "Nerd Ball" to describe his team's style of play focused on hustle and effort.
Jeremy Dent-Smith
A D-II transfer who scored Stanford's final four points from the free throw line to secure the win over NC State.
Chisom Okpara
A key Stanford player who missed several games due to injury in January and February, leading to a rough stretch for the Cardinal.
What’s next
If Stanford defeats Pitt in the first round of the ACC tournament, they would likely face NC State again in the second round.
The takeaway
Stanford's gritty, effort-focused "Nerd Ball" style of play and key contributions from role players like Dent-Smith could be the difference in the Cardinal earning an NCAA tournament bid despite their early-season struggles.
