PHOENIX (AP) ― Chane Behanan scored 15 points and Gorgui Dieng anchored Louisville’s stifling defense with seven blocked shots, helping the Cardinals knock off top-seeded Michigan State 57-44 Thursday night in the West Regional semifinals.
Louisville (29-9) smothered the NCAA tournament’s best-shooting team with its matchup zone, getting good pressure from its guards up top and some big swats by Dieng, one of the nation’s top shot-blockers.
The Cardinals relied on 3-point shooting in the first half and went inside the second to befuddle the Spartans.
Michigan State (29-8) started slow and never got going against Louisville’s amoebic defense, shooting 28 percent while being outscored 20-14 inside by the leaner Cardinals.
Syracuse 64, Wisconsin 63
Ohio St. 81, Cincinnati 66
Florida 68, Marquette 58
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
