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Louisville reserves lead rally past Wichita State

Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports
Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith lays the ball up past Wichita State Shockers forward Carl Hall in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.
  • The Cardinals came back from an 12-point second-half deficit to hold off Shockers 72-68
  • Reserve players Luke Hancock and walk-on Tim Henderson came up big for Louisville
  • Wichita State still had a chance in the final seconds%2C trailing by three points but came up short

ATLANTA — Throughout its late-season surge, Louisville's tenacious defense had rattled one opponent after another, creating offense by forcing a flurry of turnovers. But Wichita State successfully navigated that pressure defense through most of Saturday's national semifinal, and the Cardinals rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit only with the help of two reserves.

"We had to win this game with our second unit," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said after the top-seeded Cardinals' 72-68 victory over ninth-seeded Wichita State in the national semifinals at the Georgia Dome.

BOX SCORE:Louisville 72, Wichita State 68

It was not as much of a surprise that Luke Hancock scored 13 points in the final 12 minutes of the game. Pitino says Hancock, the George Mason transfer, is not a typical reserve. He was named captain before he even played a game for Louisville, and Pitino called him probably the Cardinals' best offensive player.

But few could have envisioned that walk-on Tim Henderson would be capable of making such a significant impact while filling the shoes of the injured Kevin Ware, who watched the game from the bench less than a week after breaking his leg in the Elite Eight against Duke. After making just four three-pointers all season, Henderson made two on the sport's biggest stage and when his team most needed a spark.

RELATED:Kevin Ware's mother discusses injury

Trailing by 12 points with 13 minutes to play, Hancock flipped a pass to Henderson, who unleashed a three-pointer without hesitation. After making that shot, he found the ball in his hands again 42 seconds later. And without any reluctance, he uncorked and swished another, cutting the deficit in half in less than one minute.

"It felt good hitting one, and the second one felt better," Henderson said. "I just felt calm. I felt different out there, a sense of calmness. Just 10 guys playing basketball and nothing else was around me."

CONTROVERSIAL:Questionable calls down the stretch

Despite being a rarely used reserve, Henderson said he knew he could not hesitate when he had an open three-point shot or else Pitino would get mad. But after the game, Pitino said he was as surprised as anyone that Henderson took those shots.

"Not shocked that he made them, just that he had the gumption to take them, then take it again," Pitino said. "That is pretty darn big on this stage. That shows incredible fortitude for a young man that has not played any minutes to go in and do that."

PHOTOS: KEVIN WARE AT THE FINAL FOUR

As soon as Henderson made the three-pointers, Hancock said he knew the Cardinals were on their way toward making a run that would seize control of the game. And Hancock would play an integral role in that run.

His two layups in a two-minute span were only the beginning. His three-pointer with 6:30 to play gave Louisville a brief one-point lead. Then his three-pointer with 2:06 to play prompted Hancock to pump his fist. Finally, the Cardinals had a five-point lead and a sliver of breathing room after trailing most of the night.

In all, Hancock made six of nine field goal attempts, finishing with 20 points.

"Tonight he showed the world what he is capable of doing," Peyton Siva said. "He picked and chose his spots. He knocked down countless big threes for us. He played an all-around terrific game."

VIDEO: WARE SAYS 'IT MEANT EVERYTHING' FOR HANCOCK TO SHINE

Pitino said Hancock is a top-three player on the team, and the reason he does not start is because Pitino wants to keep him out of foul trouble.

"He is the best passer, the clutchest shooter and free throw shooter and one of the smartest players to know what to do in crucial situations …," said Pitino, who also elaborated on Hancock's litany of injuries. "I am so proud of him, two separated shoulders, torn separated shoulders, torn ligaments, a great, great basketball player."

Pitino said Hancock was named captain even before he played a game at Louisville in large part because of Hancock's commitment to the summer strength and conditioning program. Pitino called Hancock one of the better leaders he has been around.

With Hancock and Henderson giving Louisville a critical second-half lift, the Cardinals' pressure defense then began to create havoc.

Wichita State had turned the ball over just four times in the first half. And during a 26-minute period that extended into the second half, the Shockers did not commit a single turnover against one of the nation's most disruptive pressure defenses.

Then the Shockers had five turnovers in a three-minute span as their lead vanished.

"First you get used to it and then they increase the intensity of their pressure," Wichita State's Ron Baker said. "It kind of hits you in waves sort of. Toward the end of the game, it kind of took over."

And so did Louisville's two reserves.

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