After dismantling Cal in its Pac-10 season opener, the Stanford men’s basketball team continues its conference season tonight when it travels to the hostile confines of Tempe to take on Arizona State.

The Cardinal (8-4, 1-0 Pac-10) enters the game riding a two-game winning streak. While the team has yet to lose at home, away games have proved difficult for a roster consisting primarily of underclassmen. Stanford has won just one of five road games on the season and will face two of its toughest opponents during this weekend’s trip to Arizona.

Cardinal head coach Johnny Dawkins says his team, which has won its two previous games by an average of 15 points, is feeding off the monumental wins by the Stanford football and women’s basketball teams.

“It’s exciting,” Dawkins said. “There’s very much a team atmosphere among the program. It’s great to be a part of that and these kids want to leave their mark on the program.”

Leading the charge for Stanford is junior guard Jeremy Green, whose lights-out shooting propelled the Cardinal to a 62-48 win over the Golden Bears on Jan. 2. Green led all scorers with 21 points and continues to improve his offensive efficiency and decision-making as the season progresses.

Perhaps the biggest change to the team in recent weeks is the promotion of freshman Aaron Bright to the starting point guard position. Bright’s ball-handling and passing abilities have been met with a vote of confidence from his coach.

“I give a lot of credit to maturity shown by Aaron,” Dawkins said. “I’m really proud of the players and [we have received] key contributions for the young kids.”

One of Bright’s classmates, forward Dwight Powell, has benefited from his move to the bench. After beginning the season as the team’s starting small forward, Powell has flourished in his role as a reserve and has demonstrated his flexibility to play at either forward position. Powell had 20 points and seven rebounds in his last game and will need to come out with similar aggression against a stout Arizona State squad.

Cal head coach Mike Montgomery spoke of Powell’s skill set and the difficulty it will bring to conference opponents.

“[Before the season] I don’t think anyone would have said he’s not a good player,” Montgomery said. “He’s really good. He’s quick with the ball and made some really good shots.”

Arizona State (8-5, 1-1) will look to contain Powell, Green and the rest of the Stanford offense as it continues its quest for a fourth straight 20-win season. The Sun Devils are coached by reigning Pac-10 coach of the year Herb Sendek and are fresh off a second-place conference finish.

However, Sendek’s squad has gotten off to a less-than-ideal start that includes a 22-point defeat on the road against Oregon State. In its last two games, Arizona State has played without guard Trent Lockett, the team’s leading scorer, who is averaging 14.7 points per game on the season.

Lockett’s 6-foot-5 frame and explosive jumping ability could pose problems for the Stanford defense if he is able to overcome a sprained left toe. His return would come in front of a home crowd that has seen the Sun Devils play inside Wells Fargo Arena just five times this season.

Arizona State swept Stanford in the regular season last year, but was upset by the Cardinal in the opening round of an unpredictable Pac-10 Tournament. Still, the Sun Devils play at another level in Tempe, winning 80 percent of their home games in the past three seasons.

Tipoff tonight is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. PST as the Cardinal looks to remain undefeated in conference play.