By Whitney Spencer
In one of the more inspired starts this season, the University of Louisville men’s basketball team looked like a team that has been surging to the top to finish the season. Off to a fast start, senior guards Edgar Sosa and Reginald Delk were a majority of the Cards offense in the first half.
With some of their best numbers in the first half this season, the Cards finished 12-25 from the floor while shooting 40% behind the arc. Freshman guard Peyton Siva would be the only freshman on the floor during the first half playing on two minutes. Sosa and Delk combined for 24 of Louisville’s 35 points at the half as they led by six.
Still it was a tale of two halves. With 10:24 left in the second half Sosa’s one of two and the free throw line ended a 21-2 run the Hoyas of Georgetown University had started. Sosa’s eagerness to drive inside cost the Cards on several possessions. The Cards wouldn’t score until the 9:37 mark on a Samardo Samuels lay up.
The spark in the second half came off the bench from freshman forward Rakeem Buckles. With several hustle plays and key offensive rebounds, the Cards seem to find life and get the crowd back into looked to be taking a turn for the worst. Buckles would also help cut the lead down to single digits with a little over seven minutes left to play.
Georgetown would quickly answer with perimeter shots and domination inside from center Greg Monroe. Sloppy passes and timid play from Samuels kept the Cards on the outside looking in at a chance to cut the lead down.
Sosa finished the game with 24 points but it wasn’t enough as the Hoyas defeated the Cards by 10, 70-60. Austin Freeman finished with 29 points as he shot 5-6 from three-point range.
The Cards will play their final game in Freedom Hall against the Syracuse University on Saturday March 6. The game has been designated a Red Out.
