Ex-Stanford captain Sauer dies in pickup game

Pete Sauer, a captain on Stanford's 1998 Final Four team, died Sunday night after collapsing and hitting his head during a pickup basketball game in White Plains, N.Y. He was 35.

Pete Sauer, a captain on Stanford's 1998 Final Four team, died Sunday night after collapsing and hitting his head during a pickup basketball game in White Plains, N.Y. He was 35.

Sauer, who worked in finance, was married with three daughters. He was part of Cardinal teams that reached the NCAA tournament in four consecutive seasons, averaging 7.9 points and 4.2 rebounds for his career.

"He was a terrific kid, an unbelievable student-athlete," said Mike Montgomery, Sauer's coach at Stanford who now coaches California. "Smart, tough, great team member.

"It's awful (news). It's hard to figure," Montgomery said, according to the San Jose Mercury News. "He had a great life, was in great shape. ... You just don't know."

Sauer was a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward from Pittsburgh. He graduated with a degree in economics.

"Everyone in the Stanford community is deeply saddened by the passing of Peter Sauer," men's basketball coach Johnny Dawkins said in a statement released by the school Monday. "He was a tremendous individual and a devoted husband and father. He was very passionate about Stanford and our basketball program. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Amanda and their three children."