By Andrew Hornback
Senior guard Jerry Smith led the No. 19 University of Louisville men’s basketball team to an 80-48 victory over Stetson University, with 17 points and 5 rebounds.
The Cardinals only trailed the Hatters for two minutes and 19 seconds the entire game, and were able to dictate the pace of the game with their 2-2-1 press defense, forcing 17 turnovers. The Cardinals also out-rebounded Stetson 34-21, but failed to meet their pregame goals.
“We had seven goals we wanted to reach on defense,” said head coach Rick Pitino. “But we only got one of them.”
Among the defensive goals set by Pitino were to hold Stetson under 30 percent from 3-point range, record 12 steals and force 22 turnovers.
Offensively, the Cardinals shot 62 percent from the field as a team, and 50 percent from the 3-point line. Senior guard Edgar Sosa went 3-of-3 from behind the arc and finished with 15 points.
Sophomore forward Samardo Samuels was the third Cardinal player to record double digit points, with 15, while adding 7 rebounds.
“I didn’t play my best, but felt I got going more into the second half,” said Samuels.
The Cardinals will be in action again on Saturday, Dec. 5, against the 49ers of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, at Freedom Hall. U of L leads the all-time series against the 49ers, 16-15, but lost their last meeting, 77-71, in Charlotte.
