EKY

LVILLE

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Waterman's last-second layup lifts Louisville past stubborn Eastern Kentucky, 78-76

AP
Dec 28, 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Noah Waterman powered to the basket with 1.2 seconds left for a layup that lifted Louisville to a hard-fought 78-76 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals built a 10-point lead with a 12-0 run midway through the second half, but the Colonels stormed back and took the lead, 76-75 on a 3-pointer by George Kimble III with 1:22 left to play. Devontae Blanton missed a jumper that would have extended the lead and Louisville's J'Vonne Hadley rebounded with eight seconds left. Waterman then drove the baseline and scored between a sea of arms surrounding the rim.

If nothing else, the game proved that Eastern Kentucky (6-7) can take a punch. Louisville (8-5) went on a 15-4 first-half run to take a 42-27 lead with 3:41 left but the Colonels rallied to cut the deficit to 46-37 at the break. Jordan Crawford's jumper with 9:49 left gave the Colonels a 61-59 lead but Waterman's 3 started a 12-0 run to put Louisville up 71-61 with more than six minutes left.

Terrence Edwards Jr. finished with 20 points to lead Louisville and Hadley scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds with three steals. Chucky Hepburn scored 14 points with six rebounds and seven assists and Waterman and Reyne Smith each scored 12 points. Louisville, which missed its first seven 3-point attempts to start the second half, finished 11 of 36 from deep.

Kimble led Eastern Kentucky with 24 points and Blanton added 22. Jackson Holt finished with 15 points.

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1st Half
EKY
Colonels
37
LOU
Cardinals
46

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Montavious Myrick vs. James Scott (Colonels gains possession)
19:38		George Kimble III misses three point jump shot
19:36		Noah Waterman defensive rebound
19:25	+2	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes two point jump shot	0-2
19:07		Jackson Holt misses two point jump shot
19:05		Devontae Blanton offensive rebound
19:00	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point jump shot	2-2
18:45		J'Vonne Hadley turnover (Devontae Blanton steals)
18:38	+3	George Kimble III makes three point jump shot (Mayar Wol assists)	5-2
18:26	+3	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)	5-5
17:57	+3	Jackson Holt makes three point jump shot (George Kimble III assists)	8-5
17:45		Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
17:43		James Scott offensive rebound
17:43		Mayar Wol personal foul
17:32	+3	J'Vonne Hadley makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)	8-8
17:03		Devontae Blanton misses two point layup
17:01		James Scott defensive rebound
16:41		Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
16:39		Cardinals offensive rebound
16:35		Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot
16:34		Frank Anselem-Ibe offensive rebound
16:34		Mayar Wol personal foul
16:12		Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot
16:10		Chucky Hepburn offensive rebound
16:02		Yvens Paul blocks J'Vonne Hadley's two point dunk
16:00		J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound
15:56	+2	J'Vonne Hadley makes two point layup	8-10
15:50		George Kimble III misses two point jump shot
15:48		Reyne Smith defensive rebound
15:43		Chucky Hepburn offensive foul
15:43		Chucky Hepburn turnover (offensive foul)
15:43		TV timeout
15:21		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
15:19		Frank Anselem-Ibe defensive rebound
15:02		Turner Buttry blocks Reyne Smith's two point layup
15:00		Cardinals offensive rebound
14:58		J'Vonne Hadley misses three point jump shot
14:56		Frank Anselem-Ibe offensive rebound
14:38		J'Vonne Hadley misses three point jump shot
14:36		Turner Buttry defensive rebound
14:29		Turner Buttry misses three point jump shot
14:27		James Scott defensive rebound
14:21		Tyler Andrews personal foul
14:08		Chucky Hepburn turnover (Tyler Andrews steals)
13:54		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
13:52		Khani Rooths defensive rebound
13:46	+3	Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot (Terrence Edwards Jr. assists)	8-13
13:28		Jordan Crawford misses three point jump shot
13:26		Terrence Edwards Jr. defensive rebound
13:12		Aboubacar Traore turnover (traveling)
12:57		George Kimble III misses three point jump shot
12:55		Reyne Smith defensive rebound
12:51		Terrence Edwards Jr. misses two point layup
12:47		Aboubacar Traore offensive rebound
12:47		Aboubacar Traore misses two point layup
12:46		George Kimble III defensive rebound
12:45		Jump ball. George Kimble III vs. Reyne Smith (Reyne Smith gains possession)
12:45		George Kimble III turnover (lost ball) (Reyne Smith steals)
12:36		Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
12:34		James Scott offensive rebound
12:26		Aboubacar Traore misses three point jump shot
12:24		J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound
12:18	+2	J'Vonne Hadley makes two point jump shot	8-15
12:18		George Kimble III shooting foul (J'Vonne Hadley draws the foul)
12:18	+1	J'Vonne Hadley makes regular free throw 1 of 1	8-16
11:51	+2	Turner Buttry makes two point jump shot	10-16
11:51		Aboubacar Traore shooting foul (Turner Buttry draws the foul)
11:51		TV timeout
11:51	+1	Turner Buttry makes regular free throw 1 of 1	11-16
11:29		Chucky Hepburn turnover (Yvens Paul steals)
11:17	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point jump shot	13-16
11:03		J'Vonne Hadley turnover
10:35	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point jump shot	15-16
10:12	+3	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aboubacar Traore assists)	15-19
9:52		Turner Buttry misses three point jump shot
9:50		Terrence Edwards Jr. defensive rebound
9:47		Devontae Blanton personal foul
9:43	+3	Noah Waterman makes three point jump shot (Reyne Smith assists)	15-22
9:04		George Kimble III misses two point jump shot
9:04		Colonels offensive rebound
9:04		Colonels turnover (shot clock violation)
8:39		Turner Buttry shooting foul (Terrence Edwards Jr. draws the foul)
8:39		Terrence Edwards Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:39	+1	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-23
8:24	+2	George Kimble III makes two point jump shot	17-23
8:16	+3	Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot (Noah Waterman assists)	17-26
8:15		TV timeout
7:50		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
7:48		Khani Rooths defensive rebound
7:41		J'Vonne Hadley misses two point layup
7:39		Devontae Blanton defensive rebound
7:22		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
7:20		Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
7:08		Khani Rooths misses three point jump shot
7:06		Jackson Holt defensive rebound
7:00	+3	Jackson Holt makes three point jump shot (Devontae Blanton assists)	20-26
6:45		Khani Rooths misses three point jump shot
6:43		Cyril Martynov defensive rebound
6:26	+3	Devontae Blanton makes three point jump shot	23-26
6:15		Tyler Andrews personal foul
6:15	+1	Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 1 of 1	23-27
6:15	+1	Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-28
5:58		Devontae Blanton turnover (Chucky Hepburn steals)
5:54	+2	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes two point layup	23-30
5:54		George Kimble III shooting foul (Terrence Edwards Jr. draws the foul)
5:54	+1	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	23-31
5:37		Jackson Holt misses two point jump shot
5:35		Tyler Andrews offensive rebound
5:33		Terrence Edwards Jr. blocks Tyler Andrews's two point layup
5:27		Tyler Andrews offensive rebound
5:16		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
5:14		Cyril Martynov offensive rebound
5:09		J'Vonne Hadley blocks Cyril Martynov's two point layup
5:07		Jackson Holt offensive rebound
5:04		Tyler Andrews misses three point jump shot
5:02		Reyne Smith defensive rebound
5:01	+2	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes two point layup (Reyne Smith assists)	23-33
5:01		Colonels 30 second timeout
4:40	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point jump shot	25-33
4:34	+3	Reyne Smith makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)	25-36
4:15		Tyler Andrews misses three point jump shot
4:13		Reyne Smith defensive rebound
4:09	+3	Reyne Smith makes three point jump shot	25-39
3:57		George Kimble III misses two point jump shot
3:57		Montavious Myrick offensive rebound
3:57		Aboubacar Traore shooting foul (Montavious Myrick draws the foul)
3:57		TV timeout
3:57	+1	Montavious Myrick makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-39
3:57	+1	Montavious Myrick makes regular free throw 2 of 2	27-39
3:42	+3	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes three point jump shot	27-42
3:12	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point layup	29-42
3:12		Aboubacar Traore shooting foul (Devontae Blanton draws the foul)
3:12	+1	Devontae Blanton makes regular free throw 1 of 1	30-42
2:54		Devontae Blanton shooting foul (Noah Waterman draws the foul)
2:54	+1	Noah Waterman makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-43
2:54	+1	Noah Waterman makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-44
2:36	+3	Mayar Wol makes three point jump shot (George Kimble III assists)	33-44
2:18		J'Vonne Hadley misses two point layup
2:16		Mayar Wol defensive rebound
2:03	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point layup	35-44
2:01		J'Vonne Hadley turnover (George Kimble III steals)
2:01		J'Vonne Hadley shooting foul (George Kimble III draws the foul)
2:01	+1	George Kimble III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-44
2:01	+1	George Kimble III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-44
1:45		Terrence Edwards Jr. misses two point jump shot
1:43		Mayar Wol defensive rebound
1:35		Devontae Blanton turnover (J'Vonne Hadley steals)
1:29		Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
1:27		Devontae Blanton defensive rebound
1:12		George Kimble III misses three point jump shot
1:10		J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
0:58		Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot
0:56		Terrence Edwards Jr. offensive rebound
0:46	+2	James Scott makes two point dunk (Chucky Hepburn assists)	37-46
0:22		George Kimble III turnover (J'Vonne Hadley steals)
0:16		J'Vonne Hadley misses two point dunk
0:14		James Scott offensive rebound
0:10		Cardinals 30 second timeout
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
EKY
Colonels
39
LOU
Cardinals
32

Time		Play	Score
19:44		Mayar Wol misses two point layup
19:42		Noah Waterman defensive rebound
19:35	+2	Noah Waterman makes two point layup	37-48
19:12		Devontae Blanton turnover (J'Vonne Hadley steals)
19:12		Devontae Blanton personal foul
19:00		Mayar Wol shooting foul (J'Vonne Hadley draws the foul)
19:00	+1	J'Vonne Hadley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-49
19:00	+1	J'Vonne Hadley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-50
18:46		Jackson Holt misses three point jump shot
18:45		Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
18:45		Chucky Hepburn turnover (lost ball)
18:31		George Kimble III misses three point jump shot
18:29		J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
18:14		Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot
18:12		Mayar Wol defensive rebound
18:07	+3	Jackson Holt makes three point jump shot (Mayar Wol assists)	40-50
17:58		James Scott turnover (Montavious Myrick steals)
17:52		Terrence Edwards Jr. personal foul
17:43	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point jump shot	42-50
17:33		Reyne Smith turnover (Jackson Holt steals)
17:26		Jackson Holt misses three point jump shot
17:24		Montavious Myrick offensive rebound
17:21	+2	Jackson Holt makes two point jump shot	44-50
17:12		Cardinals 30 second timeout
17:00		Terrence Edwards Jr. turnover (George Kimble III steals)
16:52		Frank Anselem-Ibe blocks George Kimble III's two point layup
16:50		Colonels offensive rebound
16:40	+2	Jackson Holt makes two point layup (Mayar Wol assists)	46-50
16:29		Terrence Edwards Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:27		J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound
16:22		J'Vonne Hadley misses two point layup
16:20		J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound
16:16	+2	J'Vonne Hadley makes two point layup	46-52
16:16		Frank Anselem-Ibe personal foul
16:07	+3	Mayar Wol makes three point jump shot (Jackson Holt assists)	49-52
16:00		Montavious Myrick shooting foul (Terrence Edwards Jr. draws the foul)
16:00		TV timeout
16:00	+1	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-53
16:00	+1	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-54
15:36		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
15:34		George Kimble III offensive rebound
15:27	+2	George Kimble III makes two point layup	51-54
15:03		Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
15:01		James Scott offensive rebound
14:53		Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
14:51		Colonels defensive rebound
14:33	+2	George Kimble III makes two point layup	53-54
14:33		Chucky Hepburn shooting foul (George Kimble III draws the foul)
14:33		George Kimble III misses regular free throw 1 of 1
14:33		Colonels offensive rebound
14:20	+2	Jackson Holt makes two point jump shot (George Kimble III assists)	55-54
14:06	+2	Chucky Hepburn makes two point layup	55-56
13:46	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point jump shot	57-56
13:39		Chucky Hepburn offensive foul
13:39		Chucky Hepburn turnover (offensive foul)
13:26		J'Vonne Hadley blocks Devontae Blanton's two point layup
13:24		Terrence Edwards Jr. defensive rebound
13:19		Terrence Edwards Jr. turnover (George Kimble III steals)
13:16		George Kimble III offensive foul
13:16		George Kimble III turnover (offensive foul)
13:10		Tyler Andrews personal foul
13:00	+2	J'Vonne Hadley makes two point layup	57-58
13:00		Tyler Andrews shooting foul (J'Vonne Hadley draws the foul)
13:00	+1	J'Vonne Hadley makes regular free throw 1 of 1	57-59
12:34	+2	Mayar Wol makes two point jump shot	59-59
12:06		Khani Rooths misses two point layup
12:04		Mayar Wol defensive rebound
11:59		Yvens Paul turnover
11:50		Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot
11:48		Terrence Edwards Jr. offensive rebound
11:39		James Scott misses two point layup
11:37		Turner Buttry defensive rebound
11:19		George Kimble III misses three point jump shot
11:17		J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
11:01		Terrence Edwards Jr. misses three point jump shot
10:59		James Scott offensive rebound
10:52		Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot
10:51		Yvens Paul defensive rebound
10:51		James Scott personal foul
10:51		TV timeout
10:26		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
10:24		J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
10:06		Chucky Hepburn misses two point layup
10:04		Devontae Blanton defensive rebound
9:49	+2	Jordan Crawford makes two point jump shot	61-59
9:28	+3	Noah Waterman makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)	61-62
9:01		Jordan Crawford turnover (Reyne Smith steals)
9:00		Jordan Crawford personal foul
9:00	+1	Reyne Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 1	61-63
9:00		Reyne Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:00		Montavious Myrick defensive rebound
8:40		Mayar Wol misses three point jump shot
8:38		Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
8:32		Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
8:30		Chucky Hepburn offensive rebound
8:21		Montavious Myrick personal foul
8:21	+1	Reyne Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 1	61-64
8:21	+1	Reyne Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-65
7:57		George Kimble III misses two point jump shot
7:55		Noah Waterman defensive rebound
7:44	+2	Chucky Hepburn makes two point layup	61-67
7:44		Turner Buttry shooting foul (Chucky Hepburn draws the foul)
7:44		TV timeout
7:44	+1	Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 1 of 1	61-68
7:27		Devontae Blanton turnover
6:56		Noah Waterman misses two point jump shot
6:54		James Scott offensive rebound
6:40		Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot
6:40		James Scott offensive rebound
6:40		Devontae Blanton personal foul
6:40		James Scott misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:40	+1	James Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-69
6:26		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
6:24		Reyne Smith defensive rebound
6:16	+2	James Scott makes two point dunk (Chucky Hepburn assists)	61-71
6:04	+3	George Kimble III makes three point jump shot	64-71
6:03		Colonels 30 second timeout
5:43		Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
5:41		Montavious Myrick defensive rebound
5:31		George Kimble III misses three point jump shot
5:29		J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
5:11		J'Vonne Hadley misses two point layup
5:09		Montavious Myrick defensive rebound
5:00	+2	George Kimble III makes two point layup	66-71
4:39		Jackson Holt shooting foul (Chucky Hepburn draws the foul)
4:39		Chucky Hepburn misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:39	+1	Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-72
4:15	+3	George Kimble III makes three point jump shot (Montavious Myrick assists)	69-72
3:57		Terrence Edwards Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:55		Montavious Myrick defensive rebound
3:37		Devontae Blanton misses three point jump shot
3:35		Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
3:16		Chucky Hepburn turnover
3:16		TV timeout
3:01	+2	George Kimble III makes two point layup	71-72
2:38		Terrence Edwards Jr. misses two point jump shot
2:36		Montavious Myrick defensive rebound
2:20	+2	Devontae Blanton makes two point layup	73-72
2:00	+3	Reyne Smith makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)	73-75
1:46		Colonels 30 second timeout
1:33		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
1:31		Montavious Myrick offensive rebound
1:22	+3	George Kimble III makes three point jump shot	76-75
1:03		Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot
1:00		Cardinals offensive rebound
0:46		Jump ball. (Cardinals gains possession)
0:46		Cardinals 60 second timeout
0:43		Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
0:41		George Kimble III defensive rebound
0:11		Devontae Blanton misses two point jump shot
0:09		J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound
0:01	+2	Noah Waterman makes two point layup	76-77
0:01		Colonels 30 second timeout
0:01		Cardinals 30 second timeout
0:00		Tyler Andrews turnover (Terrence Edwards Jr. steals)
0:00		George Kimble III personal foul
0:00	+1	Terrence Edwards Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	76-78
0:00		Terrence Edwards Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:00		Devontae Blanton defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Devontae Blanton defensive rebound