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University of Louisville
MANHATTAN<br>(Billy Minardi Classic)
Men's Basketball Victorious In Billy Minardi Classic
December 18, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec 18, 2002
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky transfer Marvin Stone had 19 points and 11 rebounds in his first game for Louisville to lead the Cardinals to an 89-62 win over Manhattan on Wednesday in the championship game of the Billy Minardi Classic.
Reece Gaines had 18 and freshman Francisco Garcia scored 12 for the Cardinals (5-1), who won easily despite shooting less than 50 percent for the first time in four games.
The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Stone was playing for the first time since Dec. 22, 2001, when Kentucky played Indiana. Stone was dismissed from the Wildcats later that month, then transferred to Louisville last January.
He badly missed a layup 10 seconds into Wednesday's game, but got his first points as a Cardinal on two free throws two minutes later. Stone finished 4-of-9 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. He also had three blocked shots and two assists.
He sank a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:03 left in the game, drawing the loudest cheers of the second half, when the game's outcome had long been decided.
Stone had only one double-double in three seasons at Kentucky, a 12-point, 10-rebound effort against North Carolina-Asheville in 1999.
Louisville overcame a 3-for-13 shooting start and blew the game open in the first half by flustering Manhattan with withering defensive pressure.
By the 8-minute mark, Louisville led 25-10 and the Jaspers had twice as many turnovers (8) as they had field goals (4).
The Cardinals led 41-27 at halftime, generating 18 points off 14 Manhattan miscues.
Louisville maintained a double-digit lead in the first 10 minutes of the second half, although both teams played raggedly.
Despite seven early second-half turnovers, the Cardinals led 56-43 after a breakaway dunk by Luke Whitehead at the 11-minute mark. Ellis Myles had two baskets and Larry O'Bannon scored on a drive to push the lead to 19.
The Jaspers never made a run after that, as Louisville surged past 80 points for the fifth straight game.
Jared Johnson scored 18 to lead Manhattan (4-2).
The two-day tournament is named for Louisville coach Rick Pitino's best friend and brother-in-law, who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center.
Wright State beat Eastern Kentucky 75-61 in the tournament's consolation game.
