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University of Louisville
DePaul
Men's Hoops Holds Off DePaul, 76-72
February 12, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Feb 12, 2002
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) - Reece Gaines and Simeon Naydenov each scored 20 points as Louisville built a 20-point lead, then held off a DePaul rally for a 76-72 victory Tuesday night.
The Cardinals (14-9, 5-6 Conference USA) led 47-28 at halftime but the Blue Demons (9-14, 2-9) crept back in the second half. DePaul (9-14, 2-9) was able to get within one, 73-72, after Drake Diener hit two free throws with 1:12 left that capped a 17-5 run by the Demons.
Louisville's Ellis Myles missed two free throws with 54.9 remaining. DePaul's Andre Brown missed a jumper and Gaines grabbed the rebound, got fouled and hit two foul shots.
With 3.1 seconds, DePaul had a chance to tie the game but Quemont Greer missed a 3-point shot from the corner and Louisville got the rebound.
DePaul's comeback effort was sparked by Diener who was 5-of-7 from long range and scored all of his 17 points in the second half.
Louisville snapped a two-game losing streak and extended their winning streak against DePaul to 12 games. DePaul has not beaten Louisville since Feb. 25, 1995.
The Cardinals used a 21-5 run to take a 43-23 lead. Naydenov ignited the run with a 3-pointer and Bryant Northern capped it with another 3, with 2:41 left in the first half.
Northern, a walk-on player, contributed 14 points. Gaines had five rebounds and six assists, both team highs.
Lance William's 22 points and 11 rebounds led DePaul and Andre Brown added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The Demons dominated the boards 46-30 and held Louisville to 38.5 percent field-goal shooting in the second half.
