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University of Louisville
CONNECTICUT
Huskies Hold Off Cardinals, 71-58
January 21, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2006
Post-Game Audio Clip
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Marcus Williams scored 15 points and Rudy Gay added 12 as No. 3 Connecticut pulled away late in a 71-58 win over No. 17 Louisville on Saturday.
Louisville, playing without injured leading scorer Taquan Dean, got a career-high 27 points from center David Padgett and Terrence Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Huskies held Louisville, to just one basket during a game-ending 12-3 run. After Louisville (13-5, 1-4) closed to 59-55 on a hook by Juan Palacios with 4:12 to go, Williams hit a runner in the lane to put the Huskies up six then finished the Cardinals a couple of minutes later with a steal and layup to make it 67-55.
After settling for jumpers in the first half, the Huskies asserted themselves in the second half, shooting 68 percent from the floor by attacking the lane.
Louisville kept it close even with Dean nursing a sprained ankle and relegated to the role of cheerleader at the end if the bench in a polo shirt.
But 2-of-20 shooting from 3-point range prevented the Cardinals from pulling off the upset.
The Huskies appeared to be in control after building a 12-point lead, holding Louisville scoreless for more than five minutes and dominating the undermanned and overmatched Cardinals on both ends of the floor.
Yet Louisville rallied behind the play of Terrence Williams. His seven rebounds kept the Cardinals competitive on the glass and his energy seemed to rub off on his teammates.
Despite shooting just 31 percent from the floor - including 0-of-9 from 3-point range - Louisville trailed just 30-27 at the half by taking care of the ball while forcing Connecticut into sloppy mistakes.
Connecticut turned the ball over nine times, with the normally sure-handed Marcus Williams giving it away twice.
