LOUISVILLE - Louisville began a new basketball season Monday night, and Chris Current began his collegiate career.
The Cardinals defeated EA Sports 90-78 in an exhibition game at Freedom Hall behind Luke Whitehead's 25 points and 11 rebounds and 20 points from Francisco Garcia.
Current, a graduate of Frankfort High, played nearly 3 1/2 minutes in the second half of Monday's game. He went 0-for-3 from the field and had one rebound.
"It was a lot of fun," Current said of his debut. "It was a good time."
Current entered the game with 7:28 remaining and the Cardinals ahead 72-56. He took a three-pointer from the left corner, drove the baseline and attempted a putback to account for his three shots.
"They felt good," he said of his shots, "but I was a little stiff."
Current is a non-scholarship player, as is his roommate, Brad Gianiny of Atlanta. Gianiny also saw action Monday, finishing with three points, three rebounds and an assist in seven minutes of play.
"Brad's a really good shooter," U of L coach Rick Pitino said, "but I've never seen a young man so nervous in my life as him. He really can shoot and I was glad to see him put one in. I thought it was October 31 and he was seeing ghosts.
"With him and Chris getting in, I wanted to get them over that," he said. "They're two valuable non-scholarship players who will really help us."
For more on this story, see the latest State Journal.
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