Louisville wins in Mack’s debut

Steven Enoch had 15 points including several key free throws down the stretch, Darius Perry added 14 points and Louisville held off visiting Nicholls State 85-72 on Thursday night to win Chris Mack’s debut as Cardinals coach.

The Cardinals (1-0) had to work to put away the stubborn Colonels (1-1), whose 3-point shooting got them within 68-66 with 4:16 left.

V.J. King (12 points) made a free throw, Perry added a layup and Enoch made two more from the line to make it 73-66.

Foul troubles eliminated several Nicholls players, and King, Christen Cunningham and Perry each took advantage to make a pair of free throws for a little more room. Louisville went on to seal a successful if tense first game for Mack, who took over Louisville in March after successful nine-year tenure at Xavier.

Enoch, a Connecticut transfer, made all nine free throws as Louisville hit 42 of 55 from the line. Jordan Nwora added 12 points off the bench for the Cardinals, who began a new chapter under Mack after being implicated last fall in a federal corruption investigation of college basketball and a 2015 sex scandal.

Jeremiah Jefferson made 7 of 12 3-pointers for 24 points to lead Nicholls (1-1), which hit 12 of 32 from long range.

Oklahoma State guard Michael Weathers, who was charged with grand larceny in September and suspended from the team, has been allowed to return to practice.

Weathers pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of knowingly concealing stolen property and received a two-year deferred sentence. He made a public apology on social media on Thursday for what he called a “terrible decision” to steal a purse.

Boynton said Weathers has shown “sincere remorse” and will “begin the process of regaining the trust of his teammates and coaches as it relates to returning to games.”

Weathers was the MidAmerican Conference freshman of the year in 2016-17 after averaging 16.7 points per game. He sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. AP