Defending champ Louisville returning to Sweet 16

By FRED GOODALL Associated Press

11 years ago

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)

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.