Loss not in Cards for L’ville despite real offensive funk

Russ Smith scored 16 points and No. 2 Louisville overcame a terrible offensive effort for a 5146 victory over Northern Iowa last night in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

The Cardinals had a bad first half, looked as if they straightened things out but then stumbled to the finish.

Louisville (40) will face No. 13 Missouri in tonight’s semifinals.

The Cardinals somehow held a 2620 halftime lead despite shooting 27 percent from the field (10 of 37) and committing 10 turnovers in the first half.

They held Northern Iowa (31) to one field goal over the opening 10:47 of the second half and led 4024.

But it was far from an easy ride to the finish as the Cardinals went 5:12 without scoring and the Panthers pulled within one point — 4544— with 2:06 left in the game.

Missouri 78, Stanford 70

In Paradise Island, Bahamas, Laurence Bowers scored 19 points, as usual most were in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds as No. 13 Missouri (40) beat Stanford (32) in a firstround game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Duke 89, Minnesota 71

In Paradise Island, Bahamas, Seth Curry scored 25 points and Mason Plumlee added 20 points and a career high matching 17 rebounds as No. 5 Duke’s starters scored all but two of the points for the Blue Devils (40) in its victory over Minnesota (41) in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Sophomore point guard Quinn Cook had a careerhigh 17 points for the Blue Devils will face Virginia Commonwealth in the tournament semifinals today.

Rodney Williams scored 16 points to lead Minnesota.

VCU 78, Memphis 65

In Paradise Island, Bahamas, Treveon Graham scored 26 points and Rob Brandenberg added 15, including two late 3pointers, andVirginia Commonwealth (31) beat No. 19 Memphis (21) in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

West Virginia 87, Marist 44

In Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Eron Harris scored 15 points and Terry Henderson added 14 to lead West Virginia (11) past Marist (13) in the first round of the Old Spice Classic.

Marist got 10points fromIsaiah Morton. Adam Kemp had six points and nine rebounds.

Gonzaga 57, Clemson 49

In Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Elias Harris and Kelly Olynyk each scored 13 points to help No. 17 Gonzaga (40) beat Clemson (21) in a firstround game at the Old Spice Classic.