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Louisville advances in win over Manhattan

Mar 21, 2014 - 7:03 AM Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Luke Hancock nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the final 81 seconds to spring Louisville to a 71-64 win over upset-minded Manhattan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Hancock, who finished with 16 points, had missed his previous three 3-point attempts. Russ Smith finished with a game-high 18 points and Montrezl Harrell added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Cardinals (30-5), who will face Saint Louis in the Round of 32 on Saturday.

Thursday pitted Louisville coach Rick Pitino against former assistant coach and now Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello. Masiello served as Pitino's assistant from 2005-2011 at Louisville and also played for Pitino at Kentucky from 1996-1997. Additionally, Masiello served as ball boy for the New York Knicks during Pitino's time coaching the team.

"The story tonight was, we won the game," said Pitino. "I think we're a very good basketball team. I thought Manhattan was the better team tonight until four minutes left in the game."

Ashton Pankey scored 16 points and Emmy Andujar finished with 13 for the Jaspers (25-8).

"I thought we played well for about 39 or 38 minutes," said Masiello. "That's what happens when you play great teams. You give them that one opportunity and they make you pay."

Louisville led 35-29 entering the break, but Manhattan used an 8-0 run to take a 37-35 lead just over 3 1/2 minutes into the second half. Harrell stopped the bleeding with a slam that sparked a 6-0 swing to put Louisville ahead 41-37.

Louisville's lead swelled to 48-43 moments later following a Will Blackshear free throw, but Pankey spearheaded an 8-3 burst that tied the game at 50-50. Pankey score six points on the flurry.

Louisville once again opened a two-possession lead following Harrell's three- point play. Smith found Harrell on the baseline with a beautiful no-look pass from the top of the key.

A 6-0 Manhattan run gave the Jaspers a 58-55 lead with 4:19 to go, but Smith nailed a game-tying 3-pointer from the left with nearly a minute later. Tyler Wilson gave Manhattan an 60-58 edge with just over 2 1/2 minutes to go, but a Blackshear layup followed by five straight points from Hancock, including his first 3-pointer of the game, put Louisville ahead 65-60.

After Pankey pulled the Jaspers within three, 65-62, Hancock delivered the dagger with a 3-pointer with 27 ticks showing.

Andujar made a layup to make it a 68-64 game, but Smith went 3-for-4 from the line down the stretch and Manhattan was unable to get a basket the rest of the way.

Louisville, which led by as many as seven in the first half, carried a 35-29 lead into the break.

Game Notes

Pitino has lost to just two (Mick Cronin, Tubby Smith) of the 24 former assistants he has coached against ... Louisville was just 8-for-22 from the field in the second half ... Manhattan outscored Louisville 38-32 in the paint ... Louisville scored 22 points off 15 Manhattan turnovers.