Matt Cross scored 14 points off the bench to help spark Louisville to a 77-60 victory against visiting Navy on Monday night.
Samuell Williamson, also a reserve, posted 13 points for the Cardinals (2-1). Noah Locke, a transfer from Florida, had 12 points, and Jae’Lyn Withers added 11 points.
It was a good recovery for Louisville, which lost in overtime at home to Furman in its previous game on Friday. The Cardinals made 10 of 24 shots from 3-point range against Navy’s defense, with Cross sinking all four of his long-distance attempts.
Navy (1-2) completed a three-game opening stretch against Atlantic Coast Conference teams. After beginning with an upset of then-No. 25 Virginia, the Midshipmen fell to Virginia Tech at home.
Navy, a Patriot League member, doesn’t have another power-conference opponent on its schedule.
John Carter Jr. poured in 15 points and Daniel Deaver had 12 points for Navy. The Midshipmen were hampered by 3-for-21 shooting on 3-point attempts and 19 turnovers.
Cross and teammate Mason Faulkner, who made two treys, were the only players in the game with more than one 3-point basket.
Louisville led 45-33 at halftime and expanded the margin to 18 points early in the second half. Cross tallied five straight points during one second-half stretch.
Navy never pulled closer than 15 points down the result of the way.
The Midshipmen did limit Louisville on the boards, producing a 32-27 rebounding advantage. Deaver’s seven rebounds were tops in the game.
The Cardinals collected only four offensive rebounds to Navy’s 12. Louisville, though, shot 56 percent from the field while the Midshipmen hit 42.9 percent.
The Cardinals had won 59 straight home games in November until the Furman result, so they hope the Monday game begins another long streak in that category. This was the third of four games at home to start the season for Louisville.
Louisville won the only previous meeting with Navy, prevailing in 1972 at home.
–Field Level Media
