LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Russ Smith scored 18 points, Peyton Siva added 14 and No. 12 Louisville shot 52 percent to run away from No. 25 Marquette 70-51 on Sunday.
The lopsided outcome was somewhat surprising considering what was at stake for both teams in the Big East.
Marquette had an opportunity to take a one-game lead on Syracuse, but the Golden Eagles were left settling for a first-place tie with the Orange. The Cardinals (18-4, 6-3), meanwhile, moved a half-game closer to both schools with their second straight win, remaining in a four-way tie for third.
The Cardinals finished 27 of 52 from the field after an 0-for-8 start while holding the Golden Eagles (15-5, 6-2) to 36 percent shooting (19 of 53). They also outrebounded Marquette 38-26.
Gorgui Dieng added eight points and eight rebounds for Louisville.
Vander Blue had 17 points and Trent Lockett 16 for the Golden Eagles, who have dropped two of their last four games.
The Cardinals unveiled all-white uniforms for the school's ``White Out'' promotion that even involved coach Rick Pitino, who was resplendent in an all-white suit.
But early on, Louisville's offense was as blank as its outfits.
The Cardinals trailed 9-1 behind 0-for-8 shooting and three turnovers, going nearly six minutes before Montrezl Harrell scored their first basket with a dunk at the 14:19 mark, 12 seconds after he entered the game. Marquette controlled the game for several more minutes, but the freshman forward's shot helped shake the Cardinals from their listless start.
A 24-9 run followed over the next nine minutes as the Cardinals made 10 of their next 15 attempts. Louisville's bench provided the spark as Wayne Blackshear, who missed the previous game with a shoulder injury, returned to hit three of his first four shots. He finished with nine points.
Stephan Van Treese added three rebounds in the half while Harrell put a body in front of 6-foot-8, 290-pound Golden Eagles reserve forward Davante Gardner, who went to the bench with his second foul midway through the half.
Marquette struggled getting the ball into the paint and fell victim to Louisville's pressure defense several other times. The result was 10-of-31 shooting in the first half and a 38-24 deficit to the Cardinals, who hit 16 of 32 and outrebounded the Golden Eagles 26-13.
Louisville's starters found their games, as well, with Smith scoring 12 points and Siva nine in the first half. The Cardinals stretched their lead to 53-30 about six minutes into the second half when Luke Hancock made back-to-back 3s on feeds from Siva.
The Cardinals' lead reached 23 in the second half and Marquette didn't get closer than 15 the rest of the way.
