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Blowout gets Louisville on track

Louisville guard Russ Smith (2) fights his way to the basket past Marquette’s Trent Lockett (22) and Derrick Wilson during the second half of Sunday’s game in Louisville, Ky. Smith finished with 18 points and Louisville defeated Marquette 70-51.
Louisville guard Russ Smith (2) fights his way to the basket past Marquette’s Trent Lockett (22) and Derrick Wilson during the second half of Sunday’s game in Louisville, Ky. Smith finished with 18 points and Louisville defeated Marquette 70-51.

— Two weeks of struggle had begun to raise questions about Louisville’s ability to contend in the Big East.

While some concerns remain to be addressed over the second half of their league schedule, the No. 12 Cardinals reclaimed some of their swagger with Sunday’s 70-51 rout of No. 25 Marquette.

Russ Smith scored 18 points, Peyton Siva added 14 and Louisville shot 52 percent to run away from Marquette. The Cardinals’ reserves helped out by outscoring the Golden Eagles’ 19-10 - 21 points below their average.

That contribution helped Louisville (18-4, 6-3) snap out of an early funk and the Cardinals went on to their most decisive victory since they started 4-0 in the league and beat opponents by average of 18.5 points per game. That dominance was forgotten in a three-game losing streak and a close victory over Pittsburgh, which made the Cardinals feel even better about getting it back.

“The guards got back and got on the glass. I think we matched their physicality,” said Siva, who shot 6 of 9 from the field including a three-pointer to break out of a 7-for-31 slump in the four previous games “Coach told us they were going to come in here and be physical with us. I think we did a better job after five minutes of matching their intensity.”

Marquette had an opportunity to take a one-game lead in the league on Syracuse, but the Golden Eagles were left settling for a first place tie with the Orange. The Cardinals, meanwhile, moved a half-game closer to both schools with their second consecutive victory, remaining in a four-way tie for third.

The Cardinals finished 27 of 52 from the field after a 1-for-8 start while holding the Golden Eagles (15-5, 6-2) to 36 percent shooting (19 of53). They also out rebounded Marquette 38-26.

“I think we really just locked in and keyed on every play from the scouting report,” said Louisville forward Chane Behanan, who had five points and three rebounds. “Coach stressed the whole week in practice that Marquette was a great smack-down team and they got maybe just two or three against us. I’m thrilled with how we played today.”

Gorgui Dieng added eight points and eight rebounds for Louisville.

Vander Blue had 17 points and Trent Lockett 16 for the Golden Eagles, who have dropped two of their past four games.

The Cardinals unveiled all-white uniforms for the school’s “White Out” promotion that even involved coach Rick Pitino, who was resplendent in an all-white suit.

“I wasn’t going to wear it,” Pitino said, “but my daughters kept texting me and said it’s bad karma if you don’t wear it.”

Early on, Louisville’s offense was as blank as its outfits.

The Cardinals trailed 9-1 behind 0-for-7 shooting and three turnovers, going nearly six minutes before Montrezl Harrell scored their first basket with a dunk at the 14:19 mark. Marquette controlled the game for several more minutes, but the freshman forward’s shot helped shake the Cardinals from their listless start.

A 24-9 run followed over the next nine minutes as the Cardinals made 10 of their next 15 attempts. Wayne Blackshear, who missed the previous game with a shoulder injury, hit three of his first four shots.

“Coach just told us to do our jobs,” said Blackshear, who finished with nine points.

Stephan Van Treese added three rebounds in the half while Harrell put a body in front of 6-foot-8, 290-pound Golden Eagles reserve forward Davante Gardner, who went to the bench with his second foul midway through the half. Marquette’s second-leading scorer finished with just two points and two rebounds in 13 minutes.

“You have to beat Louisville twice,” Marquette Coach Buzz Williams said. “You have to beat them in the front court, then you have to beat them in the back court. Going into today, one of every three points that scored were based off turnovers. They rebounded 42 percent of their missed shots. Those two numbers are outstanding.

“That is why they are a top five team.”

MINNESOTA 62, IOWA 59

MINNEAPOLIS - Austin Hollins hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 11.6 seconds left, lifting No. 23 Minnesota to a victory over Iowa.

Hollins finished with 17 points to help the Gophers (17-5, 5-4 Big Ten) survive a rough second half and escape the Hawkeyes (14-8, 3-6).

With Minnesota trailing 59-57, the 6-4 Hollins came off a screen to get open in the corner on an inbounds play and made the shot over 6-1 Mike Gesell. Hollins then hounded Gesell in the corner on the other end to force the ball out of bounds.

Andre Hollins, who had 15 points, made two free throws to stretch the lead to three, and Gesell’s tying attempt rolled off the front rim. Gesell finished with 11 points, and Aaron White and Zach McCabe had 10 each for the Hawkeyes.

Before Gesell’s miss at the buzzer, the Hawkeyes turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions. Junior Roy Devyn Marble went scoreless for Iowa for the first time since his freshman year.

Joe Coleman had 12 points despite five turnovers for Minnesota. Rodney Williams added 10 points and had two of the team’s seven blocked shots.

Sports, Pages 15 on 02/04/2013

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