By Matt Bradshaw —

Men’s basketball (9-3) won its third straight game and penultimate 2018 matchup against Robert Morris (4-8). Louisville started slow and trailed for most of the first half before taking the lead and winning 73-59.

Sophomore Jordan Nwora led the way with his fourth double-double on the season, posting 19 points with 13 rebounds. Junior Steven Enoch played with 16 points and five rebounds. Junior Dwayne Sutton added 14 points and seven rebounds.

The visiting Colonials began the first half hot with 70 percent shooting from the field. They established a definitive lead while the Cardinals, shooting poorly and committing turnovers, struggled to keep up.

Before the matchup, Louisville announced graduate guard Christen Cunningham would sit out due to concussion protocol. The Cardinal offense missed Cunningham’s poise and passing and turned in one of the team’s sloppiest starts all season.

With six minutes left in the first half, Robert Morris had its largest lead at 28-17.

The Colonial shooting eventually slowed down and the home team caught up. An alley-oop dunk by Enoch, provided by sophomore Darius Perry, gave U of L a fleeting lead until halftime. Robert Morris led 32-29 at the break.

Robert Morris wasted no time returning from the locker room to control the contest again. They used back-to-back three pointers to fuel a quick 39-31 lead.

Louisville turned things around completely with a 20-2 run over the course of seven minutes. The Cards played like they have all season with solid defense, strong play in the paint and success at the free throw line.

The Colonials came back within 10 points of the lead but failed to go further. U of L won the game 73-59.

Men’s basketball hosts the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m.

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File Photo / The Louisville Cardinal