NCAA Game Summary - South Carolina vs. Louisville
03.29.2006
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New York, NY (Basketball News) - Renaldo Balkman scored 23 points and Tarence Kinsey added 21 points, as South Carolina moved a step closer to a successful defense of its NIT title with a 78-63 victory over Louisville.
Brandon Wallace had 19 points for the Gamecocks (22-15), who will face Michigan in the championship game on Thursday. The Wolverines battered Old Dominion, 66-43, in Tuesday’s other semifinal at Madison Square Garden.
The Gamecocks, who shot 60 percent from the field, are trying to become just the second team to repeat as NIT champions, joining St. John’s in 1943 and 1944.
Taquan Dean posted 21 points and Terrence Williams added 16 for the Cardinals (21-13), who made 43.6 percent of their field goal tries.
The nine straight wins by South Carolina in the NIT equals the tournament record. The last Gamecocks loss in the NIT was against Memphis in the 2002 championship. South Carolina has made it to the NIT Final Four in its last three appearances, including a 60-57 NIT title game win in 2005 over Saint Joseph’s.
Louisville actually bolted to an 11-2 lead, with Williams drilling a three- pointer to end the early run. However, the Gamecocks scored the next 12 points to go ahead.
The Cardinals regained the upperhand later in the half, extending to a 26-20 lead following a layup from Juan Palacios. South Carolina then went on a game- changing spurt, a 17-2 blitz, and it was 42-32 at the half.
A three-pointer by Williams, nearly three minutes into the second half, drew Louisville within 48-41, but the Gamecocks responded with a 10-1 spurt to put the game away.
