LOUISVILLE, Ky. ? Samardo Samuels recorded a game-high 24 points Sunday, while Louisville used a key second-half run to pull away and defeat the University of South Alabama 81-54 in the championship game of the Billy Minardi Classic at Freedom Hall.
Samuels finished 9-of-10 from the field and 6-of-7 at the foul line, adding three assists and three blocked shots. Three other Cardinal starters ? Earl Clark, Edgar Sosa and Tournament Most Valuable Player Terrance Williams ? finished in double figures scoring as they claimed the championship for the sixth time in the event’s seven years.
All-tournament team selection Brandon Davis recorded 16 points and a game-best 12 rebounds, and Domonic Tilford also collected 16 points for the Jags (2-2). The Jaguars are next back in action Wednesday when they play host to Arkansas in the annual Coors Classic at the Mitchell Center. Tip-off time is scheduled for 8 p.m., and the contest will be televised regionally on Comcast Sports Southeast.
The Cards (2-0) didn’t break open the game until a 14-2 burst midway through the second half. Ahead 47-34 with just over 15 minutes remaining, Jerry Smith ignited the run when he sank a three-pointer. Samuels followed up with a dunk 19 seconds later, with the edge growing to 54-36 when Clark connected on a jumper with 14 minutes to go. Andre McGee hit a mid-range jumper from the wing as the shot clock expired with little over 12 minutes to go to push the lead to 20 points, and when Williams connected on a trey from the left corner 20 seconds later following a USA turnover, the Jags were forced to call a time-out.
Samuels closed out the spurt with a pair of free throws at 10:14.
In trailing by 12 at the half the Jaguars committed only four more turnovers than the Cardinals, but UofL held a 13-2 advantage in the category over the final 20 minutes.
“You could be looking at this year’s national champions. Coach Pitino has assembled a group of guys where they can go 10 or 11 deep and not miss a beat,” Jaguar head coach Ronnie Arrow commented. “They come after you, but you can’t prepare for the heat you’re going to get for 40 minutes.
“Our guys did a decent job, but sooner or later you’re going to crack. That’s what happens in most cases against them, and that’s what happened to us today.”
Samuels helped the Cardinals build a 39-27 advantage at the break by collecting 16 points and four rebounds in 14 first-half minutes. That included drawing three fouls from Jaguar post players after hitting baskets, as he completed two of the three-point plays while going 4-of-5 at the stripe.
Clark added seven points and Sosa six on a pair of threes as well in the first half as UofL starters outscored the Jaguars’ first five 33-19. For the game, Clark and Williams each recorded a dozen points, with the latter collecting seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals as well.
Davis helped USA stay within striking distance, answering Samuels by recording 12 points and six boards prior to the intermission. Tilford added a pair of treys for six points in the opening period, as the duo combined to score 17 of the team’s first 19 points.
Ronald Douglas was credited with a game-best five blocked shots, helping USA total a season-high eight as a team. That effort led to the Cardinals connecting on only 43.7 percent from the floor for the contest.
However, the Jaguars shot just 36 percent overall at the other end of the floor while totaling 24 turnovers ? 12 UofL steals helped lead to that figure.
USA also held a 41-38 rebounding advantage in the contest, with Daniel Hayles and LaShun Watson grabbing five boards each. DeAndré Coleman and Tilford were also credited with four rebounds apiece.
The Cards built their early lead by holding the Jaguars to just one Tilford field goal over an almost eight-minute stretch between a pair of Davis baskets. The lead grew to 14, 32-18, when Clark sank a three with six minutes to go in the half, while Samuels’ final bucket of the first half gave UofL its largest edge over the opening 20 minutes, 37-22, with two-and-a-half minutes left.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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