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March 2, 2002

Box Score

March 2, 2002

By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Freshman Larry O'Bannon hit a driving layup with 1.8 seconds left to lift Louisville to a 90-88 overtime win over Charlotte on Saturday.

O'Bannon scored 12 points, and was one of five double-figure scorers for Louisville (17-11, 8-8 Conference USA), which snapped a four-game losing streak to Charlotte.

Jobey Thomas scored 27 and Cam Stephens matched a career high with 24 to lead the 49ers (17-10, 11-5).

Louisville led by 14 in the first half, but Charlotte fought back to take a one-point lead in the second half.

The teams traded the lead 11 times and neither team led by more than six in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Stephens hit an eight-footer in the lane with 37.2 seconds left and Thomas sank two free throws with 22 seconds left to put Charlotte up 80-77.

Luke Whitehead's three-point play with 6.4 seconds left to re-tie the game at 80-80.

Demon Brown drove the baseline in the final seconds, but Erik Brown blocked his layup attempt to Stephens, who threw in a short shot as the horn sounded.

As the referees met at midcourt to decide if Stephens got the shot off in time, the 49ers spilled onto the floor in celebration as Louisville coach Rick Pitino danced down the sidelines, waving his arms wildly.

Referees Larry Ware and Scott Thornley examined televised replays of the final shot and determined Stephens released it after time had expired.

The 49ers built an 85-82 lead early in overtime, but the Cardinals came back to tie the game at 88-88.

Stephens lost the ball on a baseline drive with 23.1 seconds left, and Pitino called a time out.

O'Bannon, a freshman from Louisville's Male High School, stood with the ball in the backcourt as the clock dropped under 10 seconds. He first looked to pass to Gaines, but then drove to the basket and banked in the game-winning shot.

Curtis Nash missed a desperation 3-pointer from midcourt as time ran out.

The Cardinals improved to 15-2 at Freedom Hall, their most home wins since 1985-86, when they went 17-1.