PHOENIX -- Louisville coach Rick Pitino has played in the most difficult arenas in college basketball. Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina.Hes faced some of the games best guards through the years. Bobby Hurley, John Wall, Sherman Douglass.Never before had he seen a combination like DeWayne Russell and the rowdy Grand Canyon Havocs.Overcoming a dominating performance by Russell and Grand Canyons boisterous student section, No. 14 Louisville escaped with a harder-than-expected, 79-70 win over the Antelopes Saturday night.It made us a much better team tonight, Pitino said. Whether we go to Duke or Kentucky, nothing will be as tough an environment as this.Pitino agreed to this rare road game against a small, private school out of respect for GCU coach Dan Majerle.The Cardinals (7-1) won in a blowout the first game of the series a year ago at home, but faced a much more difficult challenge heading to the desert.Grand Canyons student section is secretly one of the best in college basketball, racing to their seats before the game to create a rave-like atmosphere .The Cardinals knew Russell, the Antelopes blur of a point guard, would be able to score, yet had no way of stopping him, no matter what they did.And as Russell continued to pour in shots on his way to a career-high 42 points, the students known as the Havocs pushed the Antelopes within reach of the biggest win in school history.Ive never seen anything like it, Majerle said. Ive seen some great performances and thats the most amazing thing Ive seen.After struggling to find an offensive rhythm in the first half, Louisville started to find the mark with good passing. The Cardinals hit 17 of 31 shots in the second half and had a 22-point advantage in the paint to pull away.Deng Adel scored 15 points, while V.J. King and Ray Spalding added 14 each for Louisville, which played without 7-foot center Anas Muhmoud (concussion).Our passing was great in the second half, Pitino said. That was the difference.Missing three starters, Grand Canyon (3-4) led Louisville at halftime and kept the Cardinals close until the midpoint of the second half.Russell was the reason.The wispy 5-foot-11 senior weaved his way through Louisvilles defense despite facing constant traps and double teams, scoring on pull-up jumpers and a pair of 3-pointers for 18 points by halftime. Russell closed it with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put Grand Canyon up 37-36 at halftime.Russell kept his one-man show rolling in the second half, bringing the crowd to its feet again and again, including a baseline teardrop shot that appeared to float as high as the shot clock.Coach Majerle told me where the traps were going to come from, how they were going to defend me and I just did the best I could to execute the plan, said Russell, who hit 14 of 27 shots.Louisville put together a short run midway through the second half to go up 10 and kept its cushion despite Russells performance.BIG PICTURELouisville had another rough night shooting from the perimeter and had a hard time shaking a small school that isnt in Division I yet. Not what the Cardinals had in mind on the trip to the desert, but there will be plenty for coach Rick Pitino to use in the film room and practice.Grand Canyon schedules games like this -- it also has Duke and Arizona on this seasons schedule -- to gain exposure and experience against big-time programs. The Lopes fell short, but will benefit in the long run.POLL IMPLICATIONSScraping past a the Lopes could cost the Cardinals a few spots in the poll Monday.UNEXPECTED LIFTWith the Cardinals struggling to get any kind of flow offensively in the first half, coach Rick Pitino turned to Matz Stockman.The junior from Norway played a total of 15 minutes through the first seven games, scoring five points. He came alive when given the chance against GCU, scoring 10 points and grabbing three rebounds in the first half.I never I thought Id see the day where Id call timeouts and run plays for him, Pitino said. But thats what happened and he executed it beautifully.UP NEXTLouisville hosts Southern Illinois on Wednesday night.Grand Canyon hosts San Diego State on Wednesday night. Cheap Dorian ODaniel Jersey . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Cheap Breeland Speaks Jersey . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap-kahlil-mckenzie-jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Cheap Derrick Nnadi Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Cheap Tremon Smith Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. ATLANTA -- Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade says he hasnt spoken to Heat president Pat Riley since last season ended.Wade played in Miami for 13 seasons before signing a two-year deal with the Bulls over the summer, which includes a player option. He makes his first return to the AmericanAirlines Arena as a visitor on Thursday as the Bulls face the Heat.I think you guys know, I havent talked to him, Wade said Wednesday. Its as simple as that. I think Ive been very open and honest about my respect and love with Pat. Ive been honest that I havent spoken to him since the season ended.The general thought throughout the league last summer was that Wade would re-sign with the Heat and ultimately end his career in Miami. After contract talks broke down, Wade decided to sign with the Bulls. The 34-year-old said he has communicated with everyone else in the organization besides Riley.I know who Pat is, Wade said. Its no secret to me. I was there 13 years, Ive seen a lot of players come and go. I know how he is. If youre not with him, youre against him. Thats just the way he is. You got to understand that, man. And Im cool with it. Im fine, 100 percent. I was there 13 years so Ive seen a lot of video tributes, seen a lot of players come in and go out. And Ive seen the way hes responded to them. And I know if youre not with him, youre against him.Wade said he wasnt sure whether he would speak to Riley before the highly anticipated game Thursday.I dont know, Wade said. I plan on playing tonight [against the Atlanta Hawks], focus on this game. And then Ill worry about tomorrow at 8 oclock.Wade isnt sure how hell feel when the Heat play an expected video tribute, as they have for other players who have returned after signing elsewhere.I dont know, Wade said. Ive only experienced it from clapping for other guys who came back. Ive always been appreciative of the guys who came backk and the tributes they got.dddddddddddd I have no idea.LeBron James was very emotional when he saw his tribute, and Mario Chalmers -- the starting point guard on Miamis 2012 and 2013 title teams -- said he was moved by what the Heat did to commemorate his return after a trade to Memphis last year.Its going to be very emotional, that I can say, Chalmers said. With me coming back, I had mixed feelings. The fans welcomed me back, everybody at the arena welcomed me back, but I still had a sour taste in my mouth from how the trade went down ... and Im pretty sure D-Wades going to feel the same way.Wade has remained extremely close with?Udonis Haslem, with whom he shared captaincy in Miami for many years. Hes been in regular contact with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and continues checking in on some of his former teammates as well.Itll probably be emotional for me, Spoelstra said Wednesday. And then well get to competition, and thats ultimately what its all about.Bulls forward Taj Gibson said Tuesday that Wade has been telling teammates they better be ready to play on Thursday, the second night of a back-to-back and the Bulls third game in four nights.I would love if [the game] wasnt on a back-to-back, Wade said with a smile. I would love if I was able to have a day so I can enjoy my house. Im going to go sleep in my bed for about three hours -- I would love it a lot more. But Im going to take advantage of the moments Im there ... and go out and compete in an arena that I played for 13 years, an environment that Im used to. So its going to be fun from that aspect, but I would love it if the schedule gods would have looked at it a little better and not gave us this on a back-to-back.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Cheap Jerseys 2019 NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap NFL Hoodies Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '