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Down a key guard and struggling against an underdog whose university begins with the letter W, Louisville turned to a walk-on for a shot of life.
I don't have my media guide in front of me, but I'm pretty sure that scenario has never played out before.
The result was Tim Henderson going all Wichita State on Western Kentucky, and sparking a huge second half in which the Cards outscored the Hilltoppers by 13 to notch a 79-63 victory. The former Christian Academy of Louisville standout finished with a career-high 12 points on four made 3-pointers, four assists (also a career-high) and a steal.
The only thing Henderson didn't do on Saturday was earn the title of Billy Minardi Classic Most Valuable player. That distinction went to Chane Behanan, who produced 11 points and 7 rebounds while seeing an increase in playing time thanks to some early foul trouble from Montrezl Harrell.
It was also a day of career-highs for both Russ Smith, who dished out 10 assists to go with a team-high 14 points, and Terry Rozier, who pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds while starting at point guard in place of the injured Chris Jones.
Mangok Mathiang (13) and Wayne Blackshear (12) also hit double figures for the Cards.
Here's the full box score:
| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARTERS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| Aaron Adeoye, F | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||
| George Fant, F | 3-7 | 0-0 | 1-4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | ||
| T.J. Price, G | 8-16 | 4-7 | 2-2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 22 | ||
| Brandon Harris, G | 1-2 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Trency Jackson, G | 2-13 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||
| BENCH | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| Aleksej Rostov, C | 2-6 | 0-1 | 5-6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | ||
| Caden Dickerson, G | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Payton Hulsey, G | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Chris Harrison-Docks, G | 4-10 | 2-8 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | ||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 20-55 | 7-21 | 14-22 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 63 | |||
| 36.4% | 33.3% | 63.6% | ||||||||||||
| Louisville Cardinals | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| Montrezl Harrell, F | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Mangok Mathiang, F | 5-5 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13 | ||
| Terry Rozier, G | 2-9 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Russ Smith, G | 6-16 | 2-5 | 0-2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 14 | ||
| Wayne Blackshear, G | 4-8 | 2-4 | 2-2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | ||
| BENCH | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| Chane Behanan, F | 5-6 | 0-0 | 1-5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | ||
| Stephan Van Treese, F | 2-3 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Luke Hancock, F | 1-3 | 1-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | ||
| Tim Henderson, G | 4-6 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | ||
| Kevin Ware, G | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 30-59 | 9-20 | 10-18 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 79 | |||
| 50.8% | 45.0% | 55.6% |
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