| Date: Dec. 23, 2003 | Score: Louisville 107, VMI 56 |
| Leading Scorers: U of L: Taquan Dean (31) VMI: Matt Murrer (11) |
| On the night of the 700th U of L game played in Freedom Hall, guard Taquan Dean set a school single-game record by making nine three-pointers en route to scoring a career-high 31 points against overmatched VMI, who was missing two starters due to injuries and one other due to academics. The previous record was eight, shared by Francisco Garcia (vs. Cincinnati on Feb. 5, 2003) and James Brewer (vs. Oral Roberts on Jan. 2, 1993). The contest was pretty much over as soon as it began. VMI committed turnovers on nine of its first 11 possessions as the Cards jumped to a 16-0 lead. U of L also set a single-game assist record with 34, breaking the old mark of 32 which had been reached five previous times. Francisco Garcia led the team with eight of those assists. This stat pretty much sums up the game: in the first half, the Cards had 19 assists, while the Keydets had 19 turnovers (VMI had 23 for the game). At halftime, U of L led 58-24. |
Dean then made three three-pointers to open the second half, as the Cards went on a 15-4 run build a 73-28 lead. Garcia finished with 12 points, five rebounds and eight assists; Luke Whitehead had 15 points and matched a career-high with 15 rebounds, and reserve Nate Daniels had a career-high 17 points. The Cards shot 51.2% for the game, and by hitting a season-high 18-39 three-point tries, fell one short of the school record for most threes made in a game. Joshua Tinch hit a lay-up and a three in his action of the season; his three put U of L over the century mark.  |
