.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
University of Louisville
MEMPHIS
Cardinals Knock Off No. 19 Memphis, 66-60
February 28, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Feb 28, 2004
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Video Highlights
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville finally looked like its old self against Memphis on Saturday.
Francisco Garcia scored 18 points and the 21st-ranked Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 66-60 victory over the 19th-ranked Tigers.
Otis George added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Cardinals (18-7, 8-6 Conference USA), who won for just the second time in eight games.
"The losing streak was preying on our minds," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. "This win meant a lot to us."
The Cardinals won 16 straight games earlier this season, but hadn't been the same since Garcia and point guard Taquan Dean were injured in late January.
Finally healthy, Louisville was back to its usual, up-tempo style against the Tigers, chasing down loose balls and turning steals into fastbreak baskets.
"We definitely got after them," said Luke Whitehead, one of three Louisville seniors playing in his final home game. "The only thing that could break the pressure on us was to get a win."
The Cardinals scored 20 points off the Tigers' season-high 21 turnovers. They were outrebounded for the fifth straight game (35-29), but shot 41 percent - their best mark in six games.
"There was a lot pressure on us," Garcia said. "We just had to come out here and go to work."
Sean Banks scored 26 points and Antonio Burks added 22 for the Tigers (20-5, 11-3), who had an 11-game winning streak snapped.
Memphis shot 56 percent from the free throw line (14-for-25), its worst in a league game this season.
 Francisco Garcia goes for a layup during the second half.  | |
"Two things hurt us: free throw shooting and bad decisions," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "Short of that, this team did everything it could do. We didn't play great, but we gave ourselves a chance to win and we had a will to win."
The Cardinals hit eight of their first nine shots and jumped to a 17-8 lead. But Louisville committed three consecutive turnovers and Memphis quickly closed the gap to 17-15.
Duane Erwin converted a three-point play with 7:13 left in the first half to give the Tigers their first lead, 22-21.
The Cardinals retook control with swarming defense, forcing seven straight turnovers in an 11-0 run. The Tigers finished the first half with 15 turnovers - more than they had in 16 games this season.
"Defense wins games and it did today," Whitehead said.
Two free throws by Kendall Dartez and a 3-pointer by Garcia pushed Louisville's eight-point halftime lead into double figures.
The Tigers missed their first nine shots after halftime, but the Cardinals also went cold, missing seven straight shots after Garcia's basket.
Burks' pullup jumper with 12:05 left ended a 9-minute Memphis field goal drought. Banks made two free throws 33 seconds later to trim Louisville's lead to 45-35.
The Cardinals led 58-48 when Banks hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 6:03 left. George hit a short jumper in the lane, but Burks sank a shot in the lane and a 3-pointer to trim the Tigers' deficit to 60-56.
| Videos From  |
| Louisville snaps skid with 66-60 win over Memphis. 100k | 300k |
"I thought when we were down four, we were winning the game," Calipari said.
Louisville led 61-57 when Burks lost the ball to George on a drive. Garcia then found George open for a dunk with 33 seconds left.
Garcia pumped his fist as the capacity crowd came alive. Banks silenced the fans by banking in a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 25 seconds to go.
Nate Daniels hit two free throws with 25 seconds left and Brandon Jenkins rebounded a 3-point miss by Burks to seal the win. Jenkins added a free throw with 13 seconds left.
"You've got to give them credit," Calipari said of Louisville. "With what's happened to them in the last three weeks, they had a chance to fold and go away or panic. And they didn't."
Rodney Carney, Memphis' third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, did not play in the second half after twisting his right ankle in the first.
