By Whitney Spencer
Playing without senior guard Jerry Smith didn’t seem to be much of a problem in the first half of action in the 2010 Big East Tournament held in Madison Square Garden against old rival the University of Cincinnati. Senior starting point guard Edgar Sosa came out firing on all cylinders scoring 15 points before halftime.
Senior guard Reginald Delk was four for four in the first half from the floor and two for two from the free throw line with 13 points in the first half. The Cards led by nine at the half with what easily could have been a bigger lead had they not given up 11 offensive rebounds to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
The second half was a completely different story. Througout almost the enire second half Sosa and sohomore center Samardo Samuels scored 32 consecutive points for the Cards. Suddenly Smith’s defensive presence, good shooting, and two steals per game were desperately needed. Cutting the lead to one Sosa struggled on the free throw line throughout the second half, missing a potential game tying free throw. With a chance in the final seconds of the game, Sosa was stripped and the Bearcats held on to win 69-66.
Sosa finished with 28 points and six rebounds.
