Stanford began Saturday with a NET ranking of 12.

So after the Cardinal held off San Diego 62-59 in the first game of the Al Attles Classic at Chase Center to improve to 11-1, a reporter asked Stanford head coach Jerod Haase if he thinks his team is the 12th best in the country.

Haase didn’t directly answer the question but he did say, “The reality is I believe in our team. I think we’re improving. I also think we have a high ceiling. I don’t think we’re anywhere near where we can be.

“Our defense is operating at a pretty high level. If we can reduce our turnovers, I like our chances going into every game. I really do.”

Stanford has not allowed a team to score more than 68 points in a game this season, and the Cardinal held San Diego (6-8) to 36.5% shooting from the floor.

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Haase stressed that the Cardinal’s identity is based on defense.

“We have to become an elite defensive team, and in some ways, I think we’re working toward that,” Haase said. “Without that, we’re just another team out there. We have to become an elite defensive team to reach our dreams and goals.”

The flip side: Stanford came into Saturday averaging 14.7 turnovers per game and committed 20 against the Toreros.

“There are so many ways we can improve,” said junior forward Oscar da Silva, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds. “We don’t really know how good we can really be, and we’re already playing at a high level.”

Stanford got a game-high 20 points from freshman guard Tyrell Terry, who sat out Tuesday’s 64-56 win over USF because of a concussion.

The Cardinal trailed the Dons by 11 early in the second half. Stanford was down by nine midway through the first half against the Toreros.

The Cardinal led by one midway through the second half before putting together an 11-0 run.

Daejon Davis opened that stretch by scoring inside. An inside bucket by da Silva was followed by a Terry 3 that came off his steal.

Two da Silva foul shots preceded a nice cross-under by Terry. That made it 56-44 with 4:21 left.

The final margin was as close as the Toreros got the rest of the way. Marin Catholic-Kentfield alum Joey Calcaterra led San Diego with 17 points.

Stanford has one game left before it opens Pac-12 play by hosting Cal on Jan. 2. Next Sunday, Stanford hosts No. 1 Kansas, which lost 56-55 to Villanova on Saturday, but still represents the toughest nonconference opponent Stanford has faced.

“We all know that’s a great challenge,” Haase said. “Thankfully, I’m going to go unwrap presents with my kids, and slowly start thinking about that and right now enjoy this one, because this is a good one.”

Steve Kroner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: skroner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveKronerSF