NEW YORK, March 12 (UPI) -- Preston Knowles put Louisville in front for good early in overtime Friday and the 14th-ranked Cardinals went on to down No. 4 Notre Dame 83-77.
Louisville wiped out a 14-point halftime deficit to earn a berth in the Big East Conference championship game against Connecticut, which also went into overtime Friday and defeated Syracuse 76-71 in the opening semifinal contest.
Knowles scored eight of his 20 points in the final 3 minutes of the second half and his jumper gave the Cardinals a 72-70 lead with 70 seconds to go in regulation. Carleton Scott tied it for the Fighting Irish on a layup with 53 seconds left and Tim Abromaitis missed a tip-in just before the buzzer that would have won it for Notre Dame.
Knowles gave the Cardinals the lead with two free throws in the first minute of overtime.
Louisville (25-8) won for the sixth time in seven games. Peyton Siva had 15 points for the Cardinals.
Scott Martin had 21 points to pace Notre Dame (26-6), which had won 12 of its previous 13 games. Ben Hansbrough was held to 13 points while making 3-of-16 shots.
