By Sam Draut–
After a dominating second-half performance in a 72-58 win against Syracuse on Wednesday, Louisville (20-6 overall, 9-4 in the ACC) hosts Duke on Saturday at the KFC YUM! Center. Two weeks earlier, the Cardinals fell to Duke (20-6 overall, 9-4 in the ACC) in Durham, NC. Louisville fell behind by 16 points in the first meeting, but rallied and took a one-point lead before Duke recaptured the lead and won 72-65.
Louisville’s win on Wednesday night marked the 14th straight season the program has won at least 20 games, only three other schools (Kansas, Duke and Gonzaga) have accomplished it as well.
Follow along for live updates and analysis here:
Starting five- Quentin Snider, Deng Adel, Chinanu Onuaku, Damion Lee and Jaylen Johnson.
It is Adel’s first start since Feb. 6 against Boston College and the fourth of his career.
15:48 first half- Louisville leads Duke 7-6. Adel picked up a foul late in the shot clock while guarding Marshall Plumlee.
11:40 first half- Duke leads Louisville 16-14. Ray Spalding made his first career 3-pointer on the past possession. Cardinals are 6 of 9 from the field, but have three turnovers.
7:49 first half- Louisville and Duke tied 22-22. Grayson Allen knocked down his second 3-pointer a possession earlier. Duke has made five 3-pointers. Spalding has given the Cardinals good minutes off the bench with seven points and three rebounds.
3:28 first half- Duke leads Louisville 31-26. Allen scored on a drive to the basket and was fouled, the sophomore guard has 13 points. Louisville is working the ball into the low-post with some success, Spalding has seven points and Onuaku has eight points.
Halftime: Duke leads Louisville 37-29. Adel got lost on a rotation and Allen made a 3-pointer as time expired. Allen has 19 points, making four 3-pointers and shooting 6 of 7 from the field. Onuaku has eight points and five rebounds. Spalding has seven points. Louisville and Duke are both shooting 50-percent from the field, (13 of 26). Duke has made seven 3-pointers and shooting 57.3-percent from behind the arc.
18:22 second half- Duke leads Louisville 41-31. Pitino calls a timeout after Duke takes its largest lead of the game.
14:57 second half- Duke leads Louisville 44-35. Lee scores on a fast break after a steal. Spalding fouls Allen in the backcourt on the ensuing possession.
12:58 second half- Duke leads Louisville 47-37. There was a mad scrum for a loose ball, Allen and Johnson were scrapping for it on the ground, both players were tangled up, possible punches thrown. Johnson had to be physically restrained from fighting Allen.
11:38 second half- Duke leads Louisville 50-41. Louisville hasn’t been able to slow down Duke’s offensive attack without fouling.
9:39 second half- Duke leads Louisville 54-49. Onuaku had a long outlet pass to Lewis for a layup. Duke calls a timeout.
7:52 second half- Duke leads Louisville 54-50. Lewis fouls Luke Kennard on a fast break. Adel is making an impact on both sides of the floor, the freshman has 12 points, but has also amped up the defensive intensity.
3:55 second half- Louisville leads Duke 65-59. Allen fouls out after Johnson draws a foul, and then Allen picks up a technical foul. Cardinals on an 18-3 run.
Final: Louisville defeats Duke 71-64.
