COLLEGE BASKETBALL : LOUISVILLE TIRES OUT VS. RIVAL KENTUCKY.

Byline: Associated Press

Louisville couldn't go the distance against No. 3 Kentucky.

Derek Anderson scored five of his 19 points during a 12-0 run that spurred the Wildcats to a 74-54 victory at Louisville and handed No. 14 Cardinals their first loss of the season Tuesday.

``I didn't know if we could play with them for 40 minutes,'' Louisville coach Denny Crum said. ``I was hoping we could. We turned the ball over way, way too many times. We just ran out of gas at the end.''

Louisville, coming off an 89-85 double-overtime victory over No. 25 Boston College on Sunday, tired against Kentucky's press midway through the second half.

The Cardinals, ahead 28-27 at the half, led 42-39 after B.J. Flynn's 12-footer in the lane with 11:42 to go. But Louisville's Damion Dantzler turned the ball over on an inbounds infraction 27 seconds later to open the door for the Wildcats.

Ron Mercer started Kentucky's run with a 17-footer, and following a Louisville miss, Jared Prickett scored on a rebound basket for a 43-42 lead.

Louisville turned the ball over again on an inbounds play. Anderson was fouled by Dantzler while shooting, and hit one free throw for a two-point lead.

Louisville failed to score on its next possession, and Kentucky's Allen Edwards was fouled by Eric Johnson while shooting. Edwards made the first free throw, and Anderson slipped inside on the missed second attempt for a rebound basket for a 47-42 advantage with 8:26 left.

Anderson came back after another Louisville miss, scoring on another rebound basket for a seven-point lead. After a Louisville timeout, Mercer sank two free throws for a 51-42 advantage.

``Emotion took over for us,'' Anderson said. ``We were mature enough to stay with it today. Our defense got us a lot of tips and got us out on the break for a lot of easy baskets.''

Flynn hit three free throws with 6:44 left to slice the margin to 53-47, but Louisville got no closer as the Wildcats gradually pulled away.

``That's our style, to get out on the break and to get a lot of easy baskets,'' Anderson said. ``It seemed they got a little tired at the end of the game.''

Kentucky (11-1), winning its 11th straight game, turned the ball over 18 times and shot just 44 percent (23 of 52) in claiming its sixth win in the last seven meetings between the intrastate rivals.

The Wildcats overcame lackluster offensive play with a strong defensive effort that led to Louisville (10-1) shooting a season-low 35 percent (19 of 55) and committing a season-high 25 turnovers.

No. 2 Wake Forest 70, No. 7 Utah 59: At Salt Lake City, Tim Duncan scored 23 points in outdueling Keith Van Horn as the Demon Deacons (9-0) pulled away for the victory.

Duncan also had 16 rebounds, three blocks and eight assists for the Demon Deacons.

Van Horn had 24 points for Utah (8-2), but made just 10 of 25 shots to Duncan's 9 of 11. The Utah star, who sat out Saturday's game because of the flu, struggled after hitting his first three shots. He also managed only four rebounds.

No. 15 Minnesota 94, Mercer 53: Eric Harris led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points for the host Gophers.

The Gophers (11-1) are off to their best start since the 1976-77 team went 16-1 and finished 24-3, the best record in Minnesota history.

Sam Jacobson added 14 points for Minnesota, which had four players in double figures. Bobby Jackson also had 14 points, while Courtney James had 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Providence 74, No. 18 Texas 66: Derrick Brown scored 19 points and Austin Croshere added 18 as Providence (9-3) made 8 of 10 free throws in the final 1:33 to secure the upset at home.

Providence point guard God Shammgod, whose defense helped hold Texas guard Reggie Freeman to seven points (18 below his average), made two foul shots with 31 seconds left to seal the victory.

No. 6 Cincinnati 84, Nebraska 73: Ruben Patterson showed two sides of his game, scoring 15 of his 19 points early when Cincinnati built a double-figure lead, then concentrated on defense in the second half as the Bearcats won in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.

``Ruben Patterson was key defending in the second half and taking rebounds,'' Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins said. ``He had only four points (in the half) but he played the defensive game . . . the rebounding stuff and that certainly is a must in our wins.''

Patterson had nine rebounds, five off the offensive board.

Darnell Burton scored 24 points and Danny Fortson had 19 for the Bearcats (7-2).

Austin Peay 58, Pepperdine 54: Joe Sibbitt scored 18 points on five 3-point shots and three free throws to lead Austin Peay to third place in Wisconsin-Green Bay's invitational tournament.

Pepperdine (2-10) was led by Bryan Hill with 15 points. Tommie Price, Marc McDowell and Marques Johnson scored 10 each.

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Photo, Box

Photo: Cincinnati's Ruben Patterson (23) and coach Bob Huggins argue for a traveling call on Nebraska's Bernard Garner instead of a foul on Patterson during a Holiday Classic game in Puerto Rico.

Associated Press

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