By Whitney Spencer
Rivalry games are usually the most intense and physical battles a team will play in a season. To describe Saturday’s battle between the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky with those two words would be an understatement.
In the first 45 seconds of the game, a loose ball led to a DeMarcus Cousins’ elbow to the face of Jared Swopshire and a shove by Reginald Delk. Three technical fouls were assessed after careful review by the referees and Cousins shot two free throws.
In front of 24,479 fans in a rowdy Rupp Arena, the Wildcats outlasted a never-die Cardinal team 71-62 behind an 18 point, 18 rebound game from freshman center Cousins.
The Cards, who missed their first 14 shots from the field, were shooting just 5 percent from the field at one point in the first half. U of L missed 17 of the their first 18 shots, but managed to go into the half with the score 27-19. This was the lowest combined total points in the rivalry since 1922.
The Cards seemed to be inspired during halftime as they came out of the locker room firing on all cynlinders. Louisville went on a 9-0 run with 9:51 left in the second half. They took a 42-41 lead on a Terrence Jennings free throw.
Kentucky quickly bounced back after Louisville miscues and turnovers. They scored nine straight points, mostly off a late showing from freshman point guard John Wall. Louisville got no closer than seven points after their only lead of the game.
“When a game gets a little tight like that, with the game on the line, it just shows you how great Wall is because it didn’t faze him,” said Louisville head coach Rick Pitino.
Sophomore forward Jared Swopshire was the Cards’ lone consistent offensive threat throughout the game. Though senior Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith both had strong sparks throughout the game. Both only finished with 11 points.
Louisville is now 10-4 and will be in Big East play for the remainder of the season. Louisville’s next game will be on January 6th against the Friars of Providence College.
