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University of Louisville
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON<BR>(Billy Minardi Classic)
Cardinals Take Down College of Charleston 78-63
December 21, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2005
Post-Game Audio Clip
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Terrence Williams scored 16 points and No. 11 Louisville continued its dominance in the Billy Minardi Classic with a 78-63 victory over the College of Charleston in Wednesday night's championship game.
MVP Brandon Jenkins added 13 points and four assists for the Cardinals (8-1), who remained unbeaten in the 4-year history of the tournament they host.
Dontaye Draper had 16 points for the Cougars (4-4), while Josh Jackson had 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Cougars closed within 46-42 on a 3-pointer by Draper with 11:20 to go. But Louisville responded with perhaps its best stretch of basketball this season, a 21-6 run behind Jenkins and guards Terrence Williams and Andre McGee.
The trio combined for 16 points during the run, with Williams' steal and slam giving the Cardinals a 67-48 lead.
The Cardinals began the game with the kind of sustained defensive intensity coach Rick Pitino has been asking for the last two weeks. Louisville contested shots, rebounded and ran the floor while building a 26-11 lead.
When the Cardinals slowed down to catch their breath, Charleston caught up. Renardo Dickerson hit a jumper to end an 8-minute field goal drought and start a 12-3 run by the Cougars, who drew within 29-23 with 2:49 to go in the half.
Louisville guard Taquan Dean, just 8-of-27 from the field over his last two games, tried to shoot himself out of the slump. Nothing worked. During one possession in the first half Dean airballed a 3 then had his shot blocked. Dean finished with six points and six rebounds on 2-of-11 shooting.
Still, the Cardinals led 34-23 at halftime as Dean hit David Padgett for a layup and little-used guard Bryan Harvey drilled a 3.
