Another career-high for Gaines not enoughBy Benjamin Lampkin

Lay-up and a foul.

Three from the wing.

Backdoor lay-in. Another three.

For the last 12:23 of Tuesday night’s home game against Saint Louis, Reece Gaines was the only Cardinal to score a field goal. He accounted for 25 of the team’s 34 second-half points, including four three-point shots. Yet Gaines was forced to take difficult shots in the closing moments of the game, and the Billikens came away with the 67-64 win in Freedom Hall.

“I’m not saying this because Reece Gaines scored 37 points, but he may be the most improved player in our league,” said Saint Louis head coach Lorenzo Romar. “He is just outstanding.”

All praises aside, Gaines did turn in one of the more spectacular performances in school history. His 37 points, which broke the career-high 30 he set on Friday, were the most by a U of L player since Wes Unseld’s 45 in 1967, a span of 34 years. However, after taking a game-high 23 shots, Gaines was unable to muster the strength to bury the last of his 11 three-point attempts on the night, missing two deep three’s that could have tied the game.

“This is the toughest loss yet,” said Gaines, as he sat alone in the locker room after the game. “We’re a young team and we don’t always execute in those situations. But my job is to win games, and I’m pretty disappointed right now that I couldn’t win this one.”

The blame for this loss could hardly be placed on Gaines’ shoulders. After taking an early four point lead, the Cards slowly let the Billikens back into the game. Led by guard Marque Perry, Saint Louis was able to run their offense slowly but efficiently, as they shot 52% in the first half.

“They physically manhandled us out of our offense,” said Louisville head coach Rick Pitino. “We were not able to sustain that physical contact and make good plays.”

Trailing 30-34 after the intermission, the Cards looked to get back on track in the final 20 minutes. Gaines was able to get behind his defender for an easy dunk right at the start, but the Billikens continually beat U of L on offense, getting uncontested lay-ups throughout the night.

The officials seemed unable at times to control the rough play on the court, making questionable calls that brought the 19, 481 in attendance to their feet several times. The seething crowd was furious after a foul on Alhaji Mohammed, Jr. was called (the replay showed he got all ball), and made their displeasure known for long moments in the second half. Both teams were in the bonus just after the 12 minute mark passed.

Defensively, the Cardinals played tough man-to-man defense all night but broke down on several occasions. The final five baskets for the Billikens came on lay-ups, including one by Kenny Brown that wasn’t supposed to happen.

“We were supposed to trap and then foul #41 (Brown),” said Pitino. “And then we should have knocked #41 down instead of giving him the lay-up.”

Brown’s lay-up put Saint Louis up by three, and after a missed shot Brown was put on the line again with an opportunity to put the game away. As fans poured out of the exits, Brown missed both free-throws, and the rebound went to Larry O’Bannon, who immediately put the ball in the hands of Gaines.

Unlike the Tennessee game, there would be no heroics this night. Gaines pulled up from 25 feet out, near NBA three-point range, and the long shot hit off the back iron and bounced harmlessly away. The Saint Louis contingency mobbed the court, as the U of L players silently filed out with their heads down.

Not among the Cardinal players was Joseph N’Sima. With seconds to go in the first half, N’Sima took an elbow to the top of the head from Ross Varner as they battled for a rebound under the basket. As he headed to the bench, N’Sima stumbled and nearly collapsed. After complaining of neck pain, he was stabilized with a neck brace by paramedics and taken to Jewish Hospital. He was later diagnosed with a mild concussion and a neck sprain.

U of L is now 13-8 on the season and falls to 4-6 in Conference USA play.

The Cardinals will have three days off before heading to Bloomington to face Big Ten foe Indiana Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.