By Whitney Spencer
After a clock malfunction delayed the University of Louisville’s first round game against the University of California by 17 minutes, the Cards seemed to have left their game in warm-ups.
The Cal bears opened the game on a 22-4 run, as the Louisville defense was stagnant throughout the first half. After cutting the lead to six, their lack of defense allowed the Bears to extend the lead again. Freshman forward Rakeem Buckles was the Cards most impressive offensive performer and kept the Cards in the game. After another run to cut the lead to eight, a half court heave from senior Jerome Randall went in as the halftime buzzer sounded, the Bears led by 11.
As the second half began Louisville was again able to make another run, but California’s strength from behind the arc caused problems for the Cards all night. Foul trouble for senior point guard Edgar Sosa made him almost absent for a majority of the game. Buckles continued to keep the Cards afloat and finished with 20 points for the Cards.
Overall, the Cards couldn’t hold on as they cut the lead to four California went on another large run as they did to open the game and ultimately won 77-62. Senior guard Jerry Smith would finish with five points in his final game for the Cards and Sosa finished with eight Cal advances to play Duke University on Sunday. The 9th seeded University of Louisville men’s basketball team fell to the 8th seeded University of California 77 – 62 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cards finish the season with 20 wins and 13 losses.
