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Cincinnati boosts tourney hopes, downs Louisville

Feb 17, 2011 - 4:18 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Cashmere Wright had 20 points to help Cincinnati take a 63-54 win over No. 16 Louisville in a Big East battle at Fifth Third Arena.

Sean Kilpatrick had 18 points while Rashad Bishop and Yancy Gates each added eight points and six rebounds for the Bearcats (20-6, 7-6 Big East), who had lost three of four coming in.

"I thought we played 40 minutes as hard as we've played all year," said Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin. "Our problem has been that we haven't played with the intensity we need to for the entire 40 minutes. That's what's required to win in our conference and we did it tonight."

Terrence Jennings scored 14 points and Preston Knowles added nine for the Cardinals (19-7, 8-5), who had won four of six prior to Wednesday's setback. Kyle Kuric donated nine points and eight rebounds.

"We just didn't come out and execute like we were supposed to," said Jennings. "They [Cincinnati] came out and they were prepared. They played great tonight, but we just didn't do what we were supposed to do."

Trailing by 12 to start the half, Louisville kept the game close and an 8-0 run capped on a Kuric layup cut the deficit to 43-38 with 13 1/2 minutes to play.

The Bearcats, though, answered with the next seven points as Dion Dixon's jumper again made it a 12-point game at 50-38 with less than 10 minutes to play.

Louisville made a late push with Kuric's jumper making it a 63-54 game with 40.1 seconds to play and a turnover saw the team have a chance to cut further in, but Elisha Justice missed a three-ball and Cincinnati was able to kill the rest of the clock.

Cincinnati led this game from start to finish as Wright's two free throws opened up the scoring and an 11-0 run a bit later gave the team an 18-6 lead a little under eight minutes in.

The Cardinals were able to get back and got to within six points, but a three- ball from Wright and a tip-in by Gates gave the Bearcats a 14-point, 34-20, lead and the team eventually took a 36-24 advantage into the break.

Game Notes

Louisville hosts Connecticut on Friday...Cincinnati plays at Providence on Saturday...Louisville still leads the series, 53-41...The Bearcats made 44.7 percent of their shots while Louisville hit 46.9 percent of its shots.