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University of Louisville
EASTERN KENTUCKY
No. 19 Louisville Tops E. Kentucky, 78-63
December 30, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Rick Pitino was far from impressed by his Louisville team's 15-point win over Eastern Kentucky.
"We did not know how to play with a lead," Pitino said. "You've got to give credit to Eastern Kentucky for hanging in there."
Francisco Garcia scored 23 points and went over 1,000 for his career Thursday night to lead No. 19 Louisville to a 78-63 victory.
Garcia reached the milestone when he made a 3-pointer with 3:58 left in the first half during an 18-4 run that turned a 30-21 advantage into a 48-25 halftime lead for Louisville (10-2).
Michael Haney scored 22 points and also reached the 1,000-point mark for Eastern Kentucky.
Garcia hit back-to-back 3-pointers and scored eight of his 15 first-half points during the final six minutes as the Cardinals scored 13 unanswered points during their big run.
"He's a great player," Pitino said. "He carries our basketball team from an emotional standpoint and from an attitude standpoint. He's just a great young man."
The Colonels outscored the Cardinals 17-4 to open the second half and narrowed the margin to 52-42 with 13:39 remaining. Zach Ingles scored seven of his 17 points during the spurt and capped it with a 3-pointer and a jumper in the lane.
But Louisville pushed the lead to 18 three times in the second half and the Colonels could get no closer than the final margin.
Louisville held Matt Witt, Eastern Kentucky's leading scorer, to just seven points - seven below his average.
"We played very hard and unfortunately, they play just as hard every single night," Eastern Kentucky coach Travis Ford said.
Garcia missed just two field goals on seven attempts in the first half as the Cardinals shot 52 percent from the field (13-of-25) and forced 14 turnovers. The Cardinals scored 17 points off those miscues.
Juan Palacios added 15 points for Louisville, which was 6-of-14 from behind the arc.
Louisville shot 46 percent from the field and forced 24 turnovers.
"When you turn it over 24 times against a great team like Louisville, you're in for a long night," said Ford, who played for Pitino at Kentucky a decade ago.
The Colonels held a 35-24 rebounding edge over Louisville.
"It was just a lack of blocking out," Pitino said. "We work on it and harp on it. But old habits are very tough to break."
