Louisville-Cincinnati Postgame Notes

Jan. 30, 2014

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#13/#15 Cincinnati 69, #7/#12 Louisville 66
KFC Yum! Center - Jan. 30, 2014

LOUISVILLE TEAM NOTES

Thursday's game was the 98th all-time between Louisville and Cincinnati with the Cardinals holding a 55-43 advantage in a series that dates back to 1921. It is the most-played series all-time for Louisville, which is 31-16 at home against the Bearcats.
The 20 points in the opening 20 minutes on Thursday was a season-low point-total in a half for the Cardinals and the fewest points in any half since scoring 19 points in the opening half at Syracuse on 3/3/12 (L, 58-49).
The eight-point deficit after 20 minutes was the Cardinals largest halftime deficit of the season and the most overall since trailing by 13 (35-22) against Syracuse on 3/16/13 in the title game of the Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden (W, 78-61).
With the 14-0 run early in the second half, the Cardinals produced their 43rd run of 8-0 or better this season. Trailing 44-27, Louisville scored 14 straight points during a span of just 1:43 (15:42 to 13:59) to cut the deficit to just three at 44-41.
Thursday's game marked the largest scoring increase from the first half (20 points) to the second half (46 points) for the Cardinals since the 34-point increase (22-point first half, 56-point second half) in the Big East Championship title game win over Syracuse last season.
Louisville dropped to 6-4 this season when being outrebounded after finishing with a 36-25 deficit on the glass on Thursday. It was the Cardinals' second highest rebound deficit of the season (-13 vs. SMU).
The 25 rebounds for Louisville were a season-low and the lowest total overall since finishing with 25 rebounds against New Mexico in the third round of the 2012 NCAA Championship (W, 69-62) on 3/17/12.
Entering the week ranked third in the nation in turnover margin at +6.8, Louisville was +7 (13 turnovers for Louisville, 20 turnovers for Cincinnati) on Thursday.
Ranked 12th in the nation in scoring offense at 83.2 points per game entering the week, Louisville matched a season-low with 66 points on Thursday (also scored 66 in loss at Kentucky).
Louisville had just five players reach the scoring column on Thursday, the fewest of the season.
The Cardinals matched a season-low with just eight made free throws (UCF, Houston) while the 12 free throw attempts were a season low.
Louisville finished with a season-low three steals in Thursday's loss.
The Cardinals dropped to 61-9 all-time in the KFC Yum! Center, now in its fourth season as Louisville's home.

LOUISVILLE PLAYER NOTES

Finishing the game with 16 points, senior Russ Smith became just the 15th player in Louisville history to score more than 1,600 points. With 1,612 points overall, Smith is just two points behind Lancaster Gordon (1,614 points, 1980-84) in 14th-place on the Cardinals' career scoring leaderboard and 12 points behind Marques Maybin (1,624 points, 1997-2001) in 13th-place.
Sophomore Montrezl Harrell led the Cardinals in scoring with 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field marking the third straight game and the 15th time in 21 games this season he has scored 10 or more points.
Harrell has led the Cardinals in scoring five times, the second highest total on the team this season.
Playing 39 minutes on Thursday, Harrell has played 37 minutes or more in four of the last six games.
Senior Luke Hancock scored in double-figures for the eighth straight game and the 12th time this season finishing with 16 points overall on Thursday.
Hancock finished with a career-best six assists surpassing his previous high of five (Memphis in 2013-14 and UMKC in 2012-13).
Hancock played a season-high 37 minutes on Thursday and the second most minutes played in his Louisville career behind only the 46 minutes in last season's five-overtime loss at Notre Dame.
Freshman Terry Rozier reached double-figures in the scoring column for the fifth time this season finishing with 10 points on Thursday.

University of Louisville Athletics

Players Mentioned

Luke Hancock

Montrezl Harrell

Terry Rozier

Terry Rozier

Russ Smith

Russ Smith

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