Louisville Takes Down Syracuse, 58-53

Louisville 58, Syracuse 53

The No. 10 Louisville Cardinals (24-5, 12-4) avenged their January 19 loss to No. 12 Syracuse (22-7,10-6) by going into the Carrier Dome and taking down the Orange.

Luke Hancock came up with a big steal on defense and drained a three-pointer on the offensive end with 53 seconds left to put the Cardinals ahead for good.

Hancock scored 12 points off of the bench, all of which came at important times in the game, for the victorious Cardinals.

In the losing effort, C.J. Fair scored 19 points for the Orange, who will now battle with Notre Dame and Pittsburgh for a spot in top four of the Big East, the top four earn two byes at the Big East Tournament.

Louisville will host Cincinnati on Monday while Syracuse will play next on Wednesday at home against DePaul.

2:08 PM ET

Nate Shron/Getty Images

Louisville 58, Syracuse 53 Final

2:07 PM ET

Louisville is 10 for 20 from the foul line. And they're about to win on the road. Should tell you something about Syracuse.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 2, 2013

2:06 PM ET

Louisville 56, Syracuse 53 (0:04 Second Half)

Fair drains a three to cut the lead to three.

Orange must foul on ensuing possession.

2:03 PM ET

Louisville 54, Syracuse 50 (0:16 Second Half)

This game will be determined at the Louisville free throw line.

2:01 PM ET

Louisville 53, Syracuse 48 (0:23 Second Half)

Strong defense by Louisville and they get the ball back on Syracuse's 15th turnover of the game.

2:00 PM ET

Louisville 51, Syracuse 48 (0:34 Second Half)

Hancock with yet another big shot for the Cardinals.

His three puts Louisville ahead.

2:00 PM ET

Louisville 48, Syracuse 48 (0:58 Second Half)

Luke Hancock comes up with a big play on defense for the Cardinals as he steals an in-bounds pass.

Rick Pitino calls a timeout.

1:58 PM ET

Wow, Louisville tied 48-48 with the ball, Behanan's shot rims out and he missed both FTs. Painful change of momentum.
— Howie Lindsey (@howielindsey) March 2, 2013

1:57 PM ET

MBB: Tie game. 'Cuse ball after 2 missed FTs. Boeheim calls time with 1:28 left. #OrangeNation
— Syracuse Athletics (@Cuse) March 2, 2013

1:57 PM ET

Louisville 48, Syracuse 48 (1:33 Second Half)

Chane Behanan misses two free throws for the Cardinals.

Game is tied up and another fantastic finish between these two teams is ahead of us.

1:55 PM ET

Syracuse 48, Louisville 47 (2:24 Second Half)

Two straight offensive fouls on Louisville that are questionable at best.

Rick Pitino is fuming on the sidelines.

1:53 PM ET

Louisville 47, Syracuse 46 (3:15 Second Half)

Peyton Siva has checked back into the game for Kevin Ware.

Siva has not scored today and he will be counted on to step up in the final three minutes.

1:50 PM ET

Where we stand at the final media timeout.

Fair misses his favorite baseline jumper, but the ball goes out of bounds off L'ville. There's 3:50 left and UL leads 47-46.
— Syracuse Basketball (@PSBasketball) March 2, 2013

1:48 PM ET

Louisville 47, Syracuse 46 (4:22 Second Half)

Make that six straight points for Carter-Williams.

1:46 PM ET

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville 47, Syracuse 44 (4:55 Second Half)

Michael Carter-Williams is stepping up late in the second half, just like he did in the first game against Louisville.

Four consecutive points by the Orange guard cuts the lead to three.

1:44 PM ET

Louisville 47, Syracuse 40 (5:35 Second Half)

Luke Hancock drains a huge three-pointer for the Cardinals to put them ahead by seven.

Hancock has nine points off of the bench, all nine have come at crucial times in the game.

1:42 PM ET

This from Howie Lindsey of the Louisville Sports Report.

Siva is 0-8. And Siva, Wayne and Chane are 2-for-19, 2-for-12 from three-point range with six total points. And Louisville leads 42-40.
— Howie Lindsey (@howielindsey) March 2, 2013

1:40 PM ET

Louisville 41, Syracuse 40 (7:16 Second Half)

Fair misses the free throw coming out of the timeout.

For Louisville, Peyton Siva is struggling and has been benched in favor of Kevin Ware for the time being.

1:39 PM ET

C.J. Fair has 15 points and the chance to tie the game at 41 with the upcoming free throw.
— HoopsonCBS (@HoopsonCBS) March 2, 2013

1:38 PM ET

More on the move by Fair from NBC Sports' Daniel Martin.

High-major move right there by CJ Fair. Eliminate the shot blocker with the pump, step through and finish. Pretty.
— Daniel Martin (@DanielJMartin_) March 2, 2013

1:36 PM ET

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville 41, Syracuse 40 (7:34 Second Half)

We have reached the under-eight media timeout.

Right before the timeout, Fair maneuvers his way through the paint and scores on a layup.

He has a chance to tie the game up with a free throw when play resumes.

1:35 PM ET

These Louisville-Syracuse games have been highly-competitive and a great watch. Good thing at least this series will continue in 2014-15.
— Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) March 2, 2013

1:34 PM ET

Louisville 39, Syracuse 38 (9:02 Second Half)

After Southerland sends the Carrier Dome into an uproar, Luke Hancock silences the crowd with a three of his own for the Cardinals.

1:32 PM ET

Syracuse 35, Louisville 35 (10:02 Second Half)

Kevin Ware just committed the sixth Louisville team foul.

Syracuse has zero fouls in the second half.

This will play a huge role in the final few minutes of the game.

1:30 PM ET

This is why Syracuse is up at the moment.