Not quite the same old story with the University of Louisville basketball team actually holding a six-point lead after 33 minutes in the game. Usually the threshold has been the 10-minute mark in the first half when the Cardinals start coughing up the ball, committing one turnover after another. A familiar ending, however, with UofL losing 75-65 at Boston College for its ninth consecutive loss.
Louisville (2-18, 0-9) led by as many as 11 points in the first half but had a total breakdown in the second half, finishing with 19 turnovers. The Eagles (19-11, 4-6) outscoring UofL 46-30 in the final 20 minutes. “I asked (said to his team) them to please quit making turnovers,” said Payne. “Love the ball enough not to give it away.”
UofL had four players in double figures led by El Ellis with 17 points while Jae’yn Withers had 16. Mike James added 15 and Sidney Curry had 10.
BC made three open threes late in the second half at that critical juncture in the secon half. Ellis left the game for about three minutes when he hurt an ankle. He returned but couldn’t get much going. Louisville shot 53.8 from the field which including nine of 18 three point shots. However BC shot 49 percent and won the rebounding battle 27-25. The Eagles had just 10 turnovers but made 11 steals.
“You have to be fundamentally sound. Players have to be mentally tough. Have the mentality of toughness to know your job,” said Payne. “We did enough. It’s frustrating. They punched us in the mouth the second half and we never recovered.”
Quinten Post led BC with 22 points and Makai Ashton-Langford added 21 points. Jaden Zachary add 15. “We gave them shots. We gave them layups,” said Payne. “We didn’t anticipate what they were going to do.”
BC was 17 for 21 at the free throw line while the Cards were four of six.
UofL planned to stay overnight in Boston, practice there and fly to South Bend, Indiana for a Saturday game at noon. Notre Dame (9-12, 1-12) is coming off an 84-72 loss to the Eagles last Saturday and at North Carolina State 86-82 on Wednesday.