BACON'S BITS: Cards Flatten Antelopes

Freshman Raymond Spalding Received First Starting Assignment Against Grand Canyon 

By Mark Bacon

Three days after losing a late lead in a 71-67 loss to soon-to-be-ranked-number-one Michigan State, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the Cardinals (6-1) pulverized the Antelopes of Grand Canyon University (6-1), seizing a lead that was never in doubt for the final 35 minutes.

It was a tonic for the Cards. They hit 13 of their first 14 shots from the field leading to 14 straight points during the first half boom, gaining a 61-30 halftime lead. It was Louisville’s biggest half since Nov. 18, 2006, against Northwestern State.

• Damion Lee tied his season-high with 24 points, Trey Lewis added 16 and Louisville used a 26-3 first-half run to run away from the Antelopes and coast to a 111-63 shellacking on Saturday.

• Aided by 64 percent shooting in the first half, Louisville turned a 12-12 game into a 38-15 lead and laid it on to reach the century mark for the first time since Feb. 16, 2014, against Rutgers.

• Lee was on fire, shooting 7 of 13 from the field, including four 3-pointers, as U of L made 38 of 70 attempts. It was the Cardinals' sixth 50-percent shooting effort in seven games.

• The Cards were 10 of 22 from the three point arc, contrasted to 3 of 13 for the Antelopes. Defense fueled Louisville's first-half run as the Cardinals scored 16 points off eight turnovers and finished with 25 points from 15 takeaways.

• Donovan Mitchell continued his emerging offensive prowess with 13 points and seven rebounds. Quentin Snider had 12 points and eight assists for Louisville, which dominated the glass (46-24) and bench points (44-23).

• Louisville opened the second half with a 10-0 run and Grand Canyon coach Dan Majerle, a former Phoenix Suns great, could only watch as his team's deficit reached 55 points with 3 minutes left.

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