***** NCAA Tournament Game Capsules *****
                              (Monday, April 8th)
 
                    Final Score: Louisville 82, Michigan 76
 
 Atlanta,  GA  (Sports Network) -  The Louisville  Cardinals came into the NCAA
 Tournament as the top overall seed and vindicated themselves Monday by beating
 Michigan, 82-76, in an intense national championship game at the Georgia Dome.
 Luke  Hancock,  after erupting for  20 points  in Saturday's comeback win over
 Wichita  State, scored 14  of his 22 points in a three-minute span late in the
 first  half  to help  the  Cardinals  overcome another  double-digit  deficit.
 Hancock,  part of  a shorthanded bench due  to the absence of Kevin Ware, also
 hit  a  dagger 3-pointer and  two clutch free throws  down the stretch to seal
 Louisville's  third national  title and first since 1986. The Cardinals (35-5)
 relied  on a  balanced attack  and relentless  pursuit of  the ball  with Russ
 Smith  having an  off-shooting night.  They grabbed  11 offensive  rebounds to
 Michigan's  one  in the second  half and had six  players score at least eight
 points, including Smith, who had nine on 3-of-16 shooting. Peyton Siva  netted
 14  of his  18  points after  the  break while  Chane  Behanan contributed  15
 points  and 12 rebounds  in a victory that closed out a memorable day for Rick
 Pitino. Pitino, whose induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame was announced
 Monday,  became the  first  coach  to win  national  titles  at two  different
 schools,  capturing his first with Kentucky in 1996. Michigan (31-8) was again
 led  by Naismith  Trophy  winner  Trey Burke,  who  scored  24 points  despite
 playing just six minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.
 
 
 04/09 01:55:03 ET

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