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University of Louisville
EASTERN KENTUCKY<BR>(Billy Minardi Classic)
Louisville Dominates Eastern Kentucky, 104-63
December 17, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2002
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Freshman Taquan Dean scored a career-high 19 points and sophomore Otis George had career highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Louisville to a 104-63 win over Eastern Kentucky Tuesday night in the first game of the Billy Minardi Classic.
Reece Gaines had 18 points and Francisco Garcia had 13 for the Cardinals (4-1), who shot 59 percent from the field (37-of-63). Louisville topped 50 percent shooting for the third straight game and beat Eastern Kentucky for the 12th straight time.
The taller, stronger Cardinals also had a 46-24 advantage on the boards, the fourth time this season Louisville has outrebounded its opponent.
Matt Witt scored 17 and Shawn Fields added 12 for the Travis Ford-coached Colonels (5-2), who shot 36 percent (22-of-61) and committed 22 turnovers. Ford played for Louisville coach Rick Pitino at Kentucky from 1991 to '94.
The Cardinals opened the game with a 15-5 run, using their height advantage to score four baskets on layups. But Louisville committed five turnovers in the first seven minutes, allowing the Colonels to stay close.
The Cardinals got nine of the game's first 10 rebounds, but led only 19-12 after a 3-pointer by Ben Rushing with 13:29 left in the first half.
Pitino went to a smaller lineup with better perimeter shooters, and the move started the rout.
Louisville led 56-29 at halftime.
The two-day, four-team tournament is named for Pitino's best friend and brother-in-law, who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center.
Manhattan played Wright State in Tuesday's second game. The tournament concludes on Wednesday night.
