LOUISVILLE 80, CONNECTICUT 59: Gorgui Dieng scored 15 points and keyed a pair of huge second-half runs as No. 23 Louisville ran away from slumping Connecticut for a convincing home victory.

The Cardinals (19-5, 7-4 Big East) closed the half with back-to-back baskets and held the visitors without a field goal for the first 3:12 of the second period, building a 38-25 cushion that would last the rest of the way. Freshman Chane Behanan scored Louisville's first five points after the intermission to key the 13-1 surge.

Another 20-4 blitz by the home team effectively buried the Huskies (15-8, 5-6), making it 60-34 with 7:15 remaining. Dieng and Jared Swopshire combined for 13 points during that rush, which was punctuated by an emphatic dunk by Kyle Kuric.

Connecticut, which was playing its second game since head coach Jim Calhoun announced a medical leave last Friday, has lost five of its last six to slide well back of the Big East leaders. The Huskies struggled mightily on offense Monday, missing their first eight 3-point attempts and shooting just 35 percent from the floor on the night.

Chris Smith scored 16 points and Gorgui Dieng added 15 for Louisville, which has won its last five. Ryan Boatright led the Huskies in defeat with 18 points.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Louisville guard Russ Smith left with an apparent ankle injury at the 11:38 mark of the first half but later returned, finishing with six points in 14 minutes of action ... Dieng, who came in averaging 3.5 blocks, had none against Connecticut but did collect six steals.