TicketsMarch 4, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team fell to No. 10/9-ranked Louisville 67-51 Monday evening at KFC Yum! Center.
Cincinnati (20-10, 8-9 BIG EAST) struggled to protect the basketball throughout the game, committing 21 turnovers that led to 23 points for Louisville (25-5, 13-4 BIG EAST).
UC's guard trio of Sean Kilpatrick (15 points), Cashmere Wright (12) and JaQuon Parker (12) each scored in double figures, but had little help from their supporting cast on the offensive end.
Louisville guard Russ Smith led all scorers with 18 points.
With Justin Jackson out for the second straight game due to injury, junior forward Titus Rubles got the start and led UC with nine rebounds, but also committed eight turnovers and scored just two points.
Despite outrebounding UofL 37-31, the Bearcats were outscored 42-16 in the points-in-the-paint statistical category.
A jumper by Parker at the 15:57 mark of the second half tied the score 37-37, which capped a quick 6-2 UC spurt. However, the Cardinals responded by going on an 18-5 run to go up 55-42 at the 7:52 mark
Kilpatrick nailed a pair of free throws to end the run at the 7:14 mark before UofL ran off another seven straight points for it largest lead of the game at 62-44.
Cincinnati went into halftime trailing 35-31, mainly due to its 6-of-14 accuracy from 3-point range. The Bearcats missed all seven of their attempts from behind the arc in the second half.
A 3-pointer by Parker gave UC its largest lead of the game at 15-12 before Louisville went on a 10-0 run to go up 22-15.
Cincinnati closed the gap with a 7-0 run to tie the score 22-22 with 8:06 left in the first half.
UofL 8-2 run to go to 30-24 Dieng with six of the points, before four quick points by UC made the tally 30-28.
A 3-pointer by Ge'Lawn Guyn cut Louisville's lead to one point at 32-31 with 14 seconds left in the half, but UofL guard Peyton Silva answered with a trey at the buzzer.
Cincinnati closes out regular-season action 4 p.m. Saturday versus South Florida at Fifth Third Arena. Wright, Parker, and fellow seniors Cheikh Mbodj, who blocked five Cardinals shots, and Alex Eppensteiner will be honored during pregame Senior Day festivities.