Childress Helps Stanford

Josh Childress’ nervousness went away with his first layup. A few minutes later, he seemed to be in midseason form in his season debut.

Too bad his coach wasn’t there to see it.

Childress scored 10 points in his first action of the season, and No. 5 Stanford remained unbeaten, beating Washington State, 73-51, Friday night at Stanford while Coach Mike Montgomery served a one-game suspension.

Justin Davis had 13 points for the Cardinal (10-0), which finally had the use of its full roster -- including Childress, a star forward last season who’s been sidelined with a left foot injury.

Childress, the Pacific 10’s second-leading rebounder last season, played only seven minutes but led a second-half surge in Stanford’s 15th consecutive victory over the Cougars (6-5) in the conference opener for both teams.

“I could have been more effective, that’s how I have to look at it,” Childress said. “But I was pleased with the way I played. I’m not hesitant. I may be a little bit slower, but I force myself to be aggressive.”

Montgomery was hit with the first suspension of his career for making contact with an official during a game against Arizona State late last season. Assistant Tony Fuller ran the team as Montgomery missed his first game in 18 seasons with the Cardinal.

But Stanford had little trouble with Washington State, which has lost 36 of its last 39 conference games.

Marcus Moore had 15 points and six assists, but the Cougars never got to within 10 points of the Cardinal in the second half of Coach Dick Bennett’s Pac-10 debut.

California 76, Washington 62 -- Amit Tamir scored a game-high 21 points, including four three-point baskets in the final six minutes, to lead the Golden Bears (5-5) at Berkeley in the Pac-10 opener for both teams.

The Bears led by as many as 13 points in the first half but had to hold off the Huskies (5-4), who came back to tie the score at 51-51 midway through the second half.

That’s when Tamir took over, making consecutive three-pointers from the same spot on the floor.

California, which made only two shots during a nine-minute stretch in the second half, had a 17-7 run to close out the game, with Tamir making two more three-point baskets.