About 5 years ago I remember first hearing the term ‘Cardiac Cards’. Today, that nickname could not have been more accurate. The Cards faced a double digit deficit for a stretch in the second half where the game could have really slipped away. A contact technical foul on Jaylen Johnson sparked what Cards all know as the ‘boom’. Louisville closed the game on a 26-10 run to fight back from what was at the time a 54-45 Duke lead. The final score was 71-64.
Damion Lee led the Cards with 24, Deng Adel(MVP in my opinion) started for the 4th time this year adding 12 points, Ray Spaulding added 8, and Chinanu Onuaku added another double-double finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds(and only ONE foul). Grayson Allen was the hot hand for Duke scoring 29. But in the end his hot head overpowered his hot hand. Allen drove to the basket late and Jaylen Johnson(as mentioned earlier T’d up in a scrum with Allen) took a charge, which gave Allen his 5th and final foul. Allen was visibly upset(if you read his mouth you’d understand) and received a technical foul after Coack K received one moments earlier. Tempers flared the whole game, but the Cards remained resilient despite falling behind by double digits and Duke’s very hot shooting for most of the game. The men in red, black, and white showed their true colors today, and played with heart when it mattered most.
The win today means Louisville stayed in 2nd place in the ACC(10-4), one game back of the Tar Heels(11-3). The Cards would hold the tiebreaker if UNC were to drop a game. Up next the Cards will play  Pittsburgh on the road on Wednesday at 8pm ET, on ESPN3 or a local channel. Today was a big one, Card fans. Enjoy these guys while we have them for a little longer.
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