By Dalton Ray–
With the return of junior point guard Quentin Snider, the fourth-ranked men’s basketball team (20-5, 8-4) defeated Miami (16-8, 6-6) 71-66. Snider scored 13 and dished out four assists in his first game back after injury.
Sophomore Deng Adel carried the Cardinals in the first half and finished with 18 points. Sophomore Donovan Mitchell added 18 points with 12 coming in the second half.
Trailing for first 35 minutes of the game, coach Rick Pitino said it’s rare for any team to pull out this type of win.
“Ninety-five percent of teams lose this game. (Miami) totally out played us and they were the better basketball team, but we show incredible character to win this game. I’m real proud of our guys,” Pitino said. “This is probably our best game of the year in terms of character because we didn’t have it tonight but still won.”
Leading from the opening tip, Miami’s aggressive play pushed their lead to 28-18 with under 10 minutes in the half.
The Cardinals struggled with their interior defense, allowing 22 points in the paint in the first half.
Miami slowed Louisville’s offense down by fronting the post players, not allowing Louisville to get easy passes inside. Forced to shoot over the Hurricanes’ defense, the Cardinals struggled to score.
At the half, Adel led the Cardinals with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Mitchell added six points while the rest of the team scored nine points on 2-of-10 shooting. Louisville trailed 33-26 at the break.
With the crowd getting restless in the second half, Snider hit a three, bringing the Cards within four at 44-40. Moments later, Miami’s Devon Reed drilled a three after a turnover from Ray Spalding.
Mitchell nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game at 53 with six minutes to play. A minute later, Mangok Mathiang gave Louisville its first lead at 55-53. A four-point play by Adel gave Louisville a six-point lead and Mitchell’s layup capped Louisville’s 13-0 run.
The Hurricanes clawed their way back in the game, tying the game at 61 with 1:50 to play. After Miami turned the ball over, Snider hit a deep three to push the Louisville lead to 66-61 with 40 second left.
U of L travels to Syracuse (16-10, 8-5) on Feb. 13.
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- A fan ran out on the court during the first half leading to an arrest and charges pressed.
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- Deng Adel hits a fade-away shot during the first half.
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- Mangok Mathiang goes go against a Miami defender.
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- Adel drives on a Miami defender in the second half.
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- Anas Mahmoud breaks down defensively.
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- Mathiang positioning himself in the post.
Photos by Laurel Slaughter / The Louisville Cardinal
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- Jaylen Johnson ices the game at the free throw line with seconds remaining.
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- The team huddles up late in the game.
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- Donovan Mitchell puts up a three during the second half.
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- David Levitch fighting against the box out during a free throw.
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- Quentin Snider finished the game with 13 points in his first game back.
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- Snider guards the ball while being defended.
Photos by Karen Nguyen / The Louisville Cardinal
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- Deng Adel shots the open 3-pointer.
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- Adel elevates going to the rim.
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- Jaylen Johnson goes up with two hands during the second half.
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- Quentin Snider scans the floor.
Photos by Mike Henderson / The Louisville Cardinal
