Sunday, January 3, 2010

Kentucky knocks off scrappy Louisville squad. . .

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - DeMarcus Cousins scored 18 points and matched a season-high with 18 rebounds to lead No. 3 Kentucky past rival Louisville 71-62 on Saturday.

Patrick Patterson and John Wall added 17 points each for the Wildcats (15-0), who matched their best start in 40 years by breaking a two-game losing streak to the Cardinals.

Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith led Louisville (10-4) with 11 points apiece but the Cardinals shot just 32 percent and couldn't contain Wall when it mattered.

The freshman star shook off a slow start by scoring six straight points during a decisive 14-3 run late in the second half after the Cardinals had surged to the lead.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino was booed lustily early by the record Rupp Arena crowd, but the crowd quickly moved on after the Cardinals erased a 13-point deficit.

Louisville pulled in front 42-41 on a free throw by Terrence Jennings with 9:51 remaining before Wall went to work.

He hit a tough leaner along the baseline to put Kentucky back in front then added a pull-up jumper to extend the lead to three. He stripped the ball from Louisville's Peyton Siva and knocked down a pair of free throws after being fouled trying to finish on the break.

Perry Stevenson added a reverse layup, Ramon Harris drilled a 3-pointer and Patrick Patterson converted a three-point play to give Kentucky a 55-45 lead with 5:35 to go.

Louisville kept scrapping but would get no closer than seven the rest of the way.


Read more here at UK Athletics...

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