STANFORD SAVORS A STOMP UNC GREENSBORO CAN'T BEGIN TO COPE WITH JASON COLLINS STANFORD 89, GREENSBORO 60.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO - They flexed, they slammed, they slashed. They did not try a pirouette, but no doubt that would have worked, too.

Led by a dominating performance by Jason Collins, top-seeded Stanford did just about whatever it fancied in an eased-up 89-60 victory over North Carolina Greensboro on Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA West Regional at San Diego State.

The not-so-mighty Spartans, champions of the little Southern Conference, were overmatched and in over their heads. Any worse, it would have been so criminal the Cardinal would have needed a Presidential pardon to advance.

As it is, Stanford will meet St. Joseph's on Saturday in the second round, a place where the past two previous Cardinal teams have gone to die. St. Joseph's opened play at the Cox Arena with a 66-62 victory over Georgia Tech.

Unlike most of Thursday's tournament games, at no time did it ever feel as if Greensboro could make it interesting. Not the way Collins started. The Stanford center had 20 points, six rebounds and a block - in the opening half. Opposing center Nathan Popp had all zeroes.

``I knew whoever they had at the center position I really didn't have to guard that much,'' Collins said.

If that much. A slow start saw second-ranked Stanford holding a 17-14 lead with 9:09 left in the first half, and the Spartans were only that close because forward Jay Joseph had hit four consecutive 3-pointers.

``We were sitting on the bench during the TV timeout and I said, `Let's go put together a run right now,' '' Collins said.

Stanford (29-2) then outscored the Spartans 31-13 to close the half.

Greensboro was thin up front and had no answer for Collins. It was man vs. boys time. He had his way inside, hitting six of is first nine shots - including a 3-pointer that bounced off the rim, disappeared somewhere into the arena rafters and then fell through the net.

``Jason Collins had a terrific game,'' said Spartans forward David Schuck, who at 6-7 drew the opening task of guarding the 7-0 Collins. ``He had everything going for him. He had that 3-point shot that almost hit the ceiling and come back down.''

The Cardinal led 48-27 at the break and the second half was like required reading. It made for a long 20 minutes, but by the time the game ended, Collins had 25 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in just 27 minutes.

His twin and fellow Harvard-Westlake High School product, Jarron Collins, added eight points and six rebounds. Forward Casey Jacobsen hit 5 of 6 field goals for 14 points.

``Joseph hit those 3-pointers to keep them in the game early, but I just felt we were going to take command,'' Jarron Collins said. ``The entire game I was confident. I always felt we were going to win and go on a run at any moment.''

And then run and run. Stanford led by 31 with 8:18 to play and the bench emptied.

Greensboro point guard Courtney Eldridge had led the Spartans (19-12) all season but was never a factor on Thursday. The 5-10 Eldridge played 37 minutes but finished with just 13 points and four assists.

Schuck led the Spartans with 16 points and eight rebounds, but the Air Force transfer received little help. Joseph never scored again after his run of 3-pointers.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo: Jason Collins of Stanford was a force in the first-round rout of UNC Greensboro. He had 20 points, six rebounds and a block in the first half alone.

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Box: (1) WEST REGIONAL

(2) EAST REGIONAL