By Pk Bartleystaff Writer
On Wednesday night, the University of Louisville men’s basketball team saw their first action of the year in an exhibition game against EA Sports All-stars.
The Cards came out playing sloppy. EA Sports scored the first six points of the game with a big three from former U of L player center Muhammad Lasege.
Lasege had 11-points total for the game.
U of L got back in the game with big plays from senior guard Reece Gaines. Gaines had 14 points in the first half, including two 3-pointers.
However, EA Sports had some three-point shooters of their own, hitting six of twelve 3-pointers in the first half. Louisville’s bad perimeter defense helped EA Sports to go into the locker room down only two at 48-46.
In the second half the Cards played better defense with five steals in the and one block. However, EA Sports was still able to keep the game close throughout with great 3-point shooting, hitting 11 out 24 for 45.8%. EA Sports was even able to take the lead on a few occasions in the second half. Each time they gained the lead, Louisville had an answer.
Gaines, U of L’s star player, only had five points in the second half.
Junior forward Luke Whitehead picked up the scoring slack putting up 17 and pulling down seven rebounds. However, EA Sports would not go away, mainly because U of L kept giving them chances, turning the ball over 16 times. Louisville went on a 5-0 run with two minutes and forty-three seconds to put the game away.
U of L head coach Rick Pitino was not very happy with his team’s performance. “I thought Alhaji Mohammed Jr. played well,” Pitino says. “Outside of that I thought he was the only one to play well.”
On the positive side, junior forward Ellis Myles had a solid game scoring eight points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Up next for the Cards a regular season opener, Saturday November 23rd against Air Force.
