Isaac McKneely had a game-high 17 points with five 3-pointers and No. 6 Louisville clamped down on visiting Eastern Michigan for an 87-46 win Monday.
Mikel Brown Jr. and Aly Khalifa joined McKneely in double figures with 11 points apiece for the Cardinals (6-0). Khalifa entered Monday night 0-of-4 from behind the arc, but promptly drained three of his four 3-point attempts. It was part of an all-around performance that also included six rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
Louisville shot 14-for-33 from the arc. The Cardinals also dominated on the glass again, winning the rebounding battle 45-36. That included 12 offensive rebounds.
Eastern Michigan (3-3), three nights removed from scoring 97 points against Oakland, shot just 28.1% from the floor and 2-of-15 from 3-point range Monday.
The Eagles’ top scorer, Mohammad Habhab, led the way with 12 points and 11 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the season. Carlos Hart added 11 points.
Louisville’s defense picked up right where it left off against Cincinnati Friday night, keeping Eastern Michigan below 10 points until the 2:33 mark in the first half.
On a night where they struggled offensively out of the gates for a second straight game — scoring four points in the first 5:25 — the Cardinals held the Eagles to 6-of-31 shooting in the half and just two assists against eight turnovers. Their defensive dominance led to a 33-17 halftime lead.
Despite shooting just 11-of-32 from the floor themselves in the first half, the Cardinals still found ways to build a lead as large as 22 points. McKneely made three of his five 3-pointers in the first half.
Louisville had little trouble pulling away in the second half. Khalifa scored eight straight points with two 3-pointers amid a larger 12-0 Cardinals run that made it 59-25.
Khani Rooths, who finished with seven points and eight rebounds, led Louisville in plus/minus at +36.
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Eastern Michigan.
