63°F
weather icon Partly Cloudy
Las Vegas, NV
Sports

Defending champ Louisville returning to Sweet 16

Louisville guard/forward Luke Hancock, left, cheers his team during the second half in a third-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament against Saint Louis, Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Saint Louis Tanner Lacona, left, Austin McBroom and Dwayne Evans watch from the bench during the second half in a third-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament against Louisville, Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Orlando, Fla. Louisville defeated Saint Louis 66-51. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
More Stories
USC head coach Lincoln Riley poses for photos as his team helps out with a food drive held by t ...
Graney: Las Vegas Bowl coaches say transfer portal needs to change
Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) takes the field as the team is introduced before an NFL ...
Raiders focused on adding more wins, not draft: ‘We don’t do this to lose’
View from the second floor of the Bellagio Fountain Club preparing for the Formula 1 Las Vegas ...
Las Vegas Grand Prix track teardown finishes ahead of schedule
Heavy ‘Monday Night Football’ favorites need win to clinch playoff spot
By FRED GOODALL Associated Press
March 22, 2014 - 1:42 pm
 

ORLANDO, Fla. — Luke Hancock scored 21 points and defending national champion Louisville shrugged off a cold shooting performance to beat Saint Louis 66-51 on Saturday and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year.

The fourth-seeded Cardinals (31-5) shot under 45 percent, had 19 turnovers and only got 11 points from star Russ Smith. It didn’t matter with the fifth-seeded Billikens (27-7) going 0 for 15 from 3-point range and struggling to take care of the basketball.

Louisville moves on the Midwest Regional semifinals in Indianapolis against either No. 1 seed Wichita State or No. 8 seed Kentucky. The unbeaten Shockers and Wildcats meet Sunday in St. Louis.

Saint Louis, which has never been to the Sweet 16, lost in the third round of the tournament for the third consecutive year. Dwayne Evans led the Billikens with 16 points and Atlantic 10 player of the year Jordair Jett finished with 15.

THE LATEST