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University of Louisville
Princeton (First Round)
Breathtaking Finish Pushes Cardinals Past Princeton, 66-65
March 12, 2002 | Men's Basketball
March 12, 2002
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By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Even the Princeton cheering section was impressed by Reece Gaines.
Gaines banked in a jumper with 5.3 seconds left and scored 23 points to lift Louisville to a 66-65 win over Princeton in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Tuesday night.
Two female cheerleaders asked Louisville's junior captain to share a picture with them minutes after the game. Gaines obliged the cheerleaders, then donned a headset for a postgame radio interview.
Gaines, who led the Cardinals in scoring for the 23rd time this season, was matter-of-fact about his game-winning shot.
"I just knew I had to make a play. I had a good, clean look and luckily, the shot went in," said Gaines, who also hit a game-winning shot in a win over Tennessee in December.
The Cardinals (19-12) led by as many as 10 in the second half, but Princeton used 3-point shooting to set up a frantic finish.
The Tigers (16-12) finished 12-of-25 from 3-point range, and went 8-of-13 in the second half.
"Down 10, I felt like we were going to get shots. We just needed to start putting them in," Princeton coach John Thompson III said.
The Tigers, who lead the nation in scoring defense, held Louisville without a field goal for 6 minutes, but the Cardinals shot 11-for-14 from the line to keep the lead.
Louisville struggled to adjust to Princeton's deliberate motion offense.
"It was hard to get into rhythm against this team," Gaines said. "They'd have the ball and go backdoor, or go over the top and hit the 3. And they made some unbelievable 3s."
Louisville's Bryant Northern made a 3-pointer with 1:54 left to give the Cardinals a 62-58 lead.
Ray Robins hit two free throws with 1:35 remaining, but Luke Whitehead countered with a pair of free throws 20 seconds later.
Erik Brown fouled Mike Bechtold on a 3-point attempt with a minute left, and Bechtold hit all three free throws to make it 64-63.
Persia scored on a backdoor layup with 11.9 seconds left to give Princeton a 65-64 lead.
Gaines then dribbled the length of the floor and banked in an off-balance jumper in traffic.
"That kid Gaines is pretty good. He's really good," Thompson said. "For most of the night, he made contested shot after contested shot."
Ahmed El-Nokali's desperation shot from midcourt bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
The Tigers' 12 3-point baskets were the most by a Louisville opponent this season.
"They burned us with the 3," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. "They shot some from 8 feet behind the line, which is what they do. They do it all the time."
Bechtold shot 6-for-11 from 3-point range and scored 24 points to lead Princeton, which was making its seventh straight postseason appearance.
Freshman point guard Carlos Hurt, out since Jan. 9 with a bulging disk in his back, entered the game with 11:57 left in the first half to a loud ovation. He finished with six points in 10 minutes.
Louisville will play the winner of Wednesday's Temple-Fresno State game in the second round.
Pitino admitted the Cardinals were lucky to advance. He lamented the pairing with Princeton when it was announced on Sunday night, because the Tigers' style of play is so difficult to prepare for.
"It's passing and cutting, a fun style to watch, a fun style to play. But on one day preparation, it is a nightmare," he said. "They played a great game. They could have advanced, but we're just happy to win."
