Auburn Storms Back To Beat No. 13 Louisville

Top 25/WCC basketball

Auburn erased an 18-point deficit midway through the second half and held No. 13 Louisville to just five points over the final 5:29 in an 82-78 victory Sunday night in the championship game of the Puerto Rico Shootout at Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Led by center Pat Burke and guards Lance Weems and Derek Caldwell, the Tigers began their surge as Louisville’s offense, which counted with the services of 6-foot-9 center Samaki Walker for the first time this season, came to a grinding halt.

Burke began the rally with two free throws to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 73-63 with 5:29 to go. Weems and Caldwell followed with 11 straight points over the next 2 minutes to give the Tigers (3-0) a 74-73 lead with 2:43 left.

Weems’ 3-pointer with 1:42 to play gave the Tigers a 77-73 lead.

Louisville (2-1) closed within two as Walker, who was suspended for the first two games of the season due to NCAA rules violations, made a layup to make it 77-75, but Weems and Burke followed with four straight free throws to push Auburn’s lead to six with 20 seconds left.

Burke’s 18 points paced the Tigers, while Wheat finished with 15 for the Cardinals, who had four players finish in double figures. Louisville is without starting for wards Jason Osborne and Alex Sanders, both ineligible for academic reasons.

Pacific 80, San Diego 78

At Stockton, Calif., Adam Jacobsen sank two of four free throws in the final 8 seconds to give the Tigers (1-0) the win over the Toreros (1-1).

Loyola Marymount 70, Seattle 55

At Los Angeles, Jim Williamson had 17 points and six assists and sparked a 12-0 run in the second half as the Lions (2-0) beat the Cheiftains (1-5).