Curry gets 0, Davidson routs Loyola (Md.) 78-48

[November 26, 2008]  DAVIDSON, N.C. (AP) -- No points for Stephen Curry, no problem for No. 24 Davidson.

In a bizarre game that saw the nation's leading scorer go scoreless and attempt only three shots because of constant double teams, the Wildcats still overwhelmed Loyola (Md.) 78-48 on Tuesday in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Curry came in averaging 35 points a game, but got into early foul trouble and then seemed more than happy to defer to his teammates. With coach Jimmy Patsos deciding to drape Curry with two defenders nearly the entire game, Curry often stood in the corner and let his teammate dominate in a 4-on-3 game.

Andrew Lovedale provided the muscle inside with 20 points and 10 rebounds, Bryant Barr and Will Archambault combined to make nine 3-pointers, and the Wildcats (5-1) were never threatened in their third straight win despite Curry's stunning numbers -- or lack thereof.

Curry had been held to single digits only once in three seasons -- exactly two years ago at Duke when he scored five points on 2-of-9 shooting. His low in his stellar sophomore season was 12 points in a victory at Winthrop.

Curry scored a career-high 44, 30 and 39 in the previous three games, apparently leading to Patsos' strange strategy.

While last season's NCAA tournament hero played with his right calf taped, he didn't appear to be injured and played 32 minutes. But Curry went 0-for-3 from the field with three rebounds and three assists.

Yet his teammates did a pretty good impersonation of him. Of course it helped that the double-team on Curry always left a player open. Barr sank six 3-pointers and scored 18 points. Archambault hit three 3s and scored 13.

Marquis Sullivan scored 16 points and went over 1,000 for his career for the Greyhounds (2-4), who hold the distinction of being the first team to hold Curry scoreless. The trouble is they shot 34 percent and trailed by as many as 34 points.

Three minutes in, Curry had missed his only field-goal attempt, committed two turnovers and one foul. His struggles helped Loyola take a 9-4 lead.

But Curry's teammates soon overwhelmed the undersized Greyhounds.

Lovedale missed just once in his first seven shots. Archambault then had a layup on Curry's only assist of the first half before drilling a 3-pointer to complete an 18-0 run for a 22-9 lead.

It was the second time in the four-round NIT that Loyola surrendered 18 straight points. The Greyhounds went five minutes without scoring against Boston College and nearly seven this time.

They fell farther behind even with Curry on the bench with two fouls. He was shuttled in and out of the game over the final 10 minutes, yet Barr made four 3s to close the half for a 39-17 lead.

Barr's fifth straight 3 in the first minute of the second half continued the onslaught.

Curry didn't attempt his second shot of the game -- a long straightaway 3-pointer that clanged off the rim -- until 14:57 remained. He then missed a foul-line jumper in the closing minutes.

[Associated Press; By MIKE CRANSTON]

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