Bulls Play Cards Well, But Fold in End

[Brad]

Bulls Play Cards Well, But Fold in End

Staff Report

Louisville, KY 02/12/05 - The Bulls, still stinging after a home loss to Saint Louis on Wednesday, had little time to heal before meeting #9 Louisville on their floor at Freedom Hall.

The Bulls jumped out to an early 10 point lead, 14-4, scoring 12 points in the first five minutes - a feat that took the entire first half against Saint Louis.  The Bulls hit on six of their first eight field goal attempts in their follow up to the 3 for 25 first half against the Billikens.

Louisville charged back however, with a little run of their own tying the score at 16-16 with 8:50 remaining in the first half.

The Bulls resumed the lead at 20-18 and again at 22-20, also tying at 24 before the Cardinals finished the half up three 27-24 - on three free throws.

The Bulls would not see the lead again.

The Cardinals pushed the lead to as high as 13 points (47-34, 11:10) in the second half, but the scrappy Bulls managed to bring it back to within five points (47-42, 7:31) after an 8-0 run fueled by five Marlyn Bryant points and a Marius Prekevicius 3-point shot.

The Bulls got to within 5 once more, at the 5:47 mark, 49-44, but by the 1:42 mark Louisville had pushed the lead back to 12, 63-51.

Terrence Leather scored a game high 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field.  He was joined in double figures by teammates Bryant (16) and Brian Swift (10).

The Bulls were a near perfect 14 of 15 from the free throw line, but turnovers and 3-point shooting woes erased any chance of a Bulls upset.

The Bulls play at Houston on Wednesday.

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