Shooting slump grounds Eagles
BC outgunned against Louisville
Effort and energy can’t often overcome poor shooting.
The Eagles shot 33% from the floor with a 5-13 assist-toturnover ratio in a 76-64 ACC loss to Louisville on Saturday afternoon at Conte Forum.
BC fell to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in the ACC, while the Cardinals improved to 7-1. BC was coming off a tough 79-76 loss at NC State and will resume play at No. 20 Duke on Wednesday night.
“It was a good effort put forth with only one day to prepare,” said BC coach Jim Christian. “It was scrappy, we fought and really adjusted well defensively but shooting the ball, it was one of those days.
“We were making great plays, making the extra pass and the ball was not going in. It’s disheartening the effort didn’t get rewarded but I’m encouraged with the effort.”
BC shot 17-of-51 and 8-for33 from downtown and suffered from a 43-30 disadvantage on the glass. Guards Jay Heath and Wynston Tabbs combined for 35 points.
Louisville was an efficient 8-of-17 from behind the arc. The Cards had four players in double figures, led by guard David Johnson with 20.
“When balls don’t go in it’s basketball and it’s unfortunate,” said Christian. “If you are taking awful shots that don’t go in you can comment on that.
“But these were one more extra pass plays, seeing the open man and just missing shots. They are a really good defensive team and Louisville does not allow the ball to go down the middle. This is a game you have to make jump shots to beat them.”
Cardinals forward Sam Williamson hit a straight up jumper in the paint and Dre Davis followed with a reverse layup on the baseline in the opening minute of the second half to take a 4124 lead. The mini-surge forced Christian to call timeout to slow the spiral.
BC regrouped with a 10-5 spurt to cut the lead to 46-34 with 15:28 to play. Tabbs led the way with a pair of 3-balls from the left corner. Heath kept the run operational with a corner trey and Rich Kelly banked one off the backboard to cut the Cards’ lead to 49-42 into the second media timeout.
Louisville began its end game with a 9-3 run to take a 61-48 lead into the final media timeout. Williamson scored five on the spurt before fouling out.
BC guard Makai AshtonLangford scored seven points to cut the lead to 67-57 with 1:27 to play. Louisville made nine free throws in the final 72 seconds to secure the victory.
“We pressed the whole game and we got into a good rhythm with that lineup and we turned them over a couple of times,” said Christian.
The Eagles employed full court pressure and did a good job clearing the defensive glass to take a 10-5 lead early. Heath opened the scoring with a corner trey and Ashton-Langford made it 10-3 by converting a steal into a layup at 16:41, forcing Cards’ coach Chris Mack to call timeout.
“The first play of the game Jay shot the wide-open three,” said Christian. “We were making the right plays and that is all you can ask for.”
The game was paused at 14:18 when Ashton-Langford took nasty slip and fall on a drive in the paint. He stayed on the court for several minutes before exiting the floor favoring his right leg.
The game tilted in the Cardinals direction during a 9-3 run. Johnson rainbowed a jump hook on the baseline to cut the Eagles’ lead to 15-14 into the second media timeout.
Louisville went up 20-15 at 9:39 on consecutive corner threes by Johnson and Josh Nickelberry, a surge that forced Christian to call timeout. Freshman wing Dre Davis scored on a follow to give the Cards’ a 22-15 lead into the third media timeout.
Louisville took a doubledigit lead, 32-22, when Williamson converted a 3-point play with 2:06 remaining. Johnson buried a trey with five seconds remaining to give the Cardinals a 37-24 lead at the break.