Hansbrough, Irish fail to get past Louisville

An ironic twist doomed Notre Dame in the Big East Tournament semifinals Friday night — Ben Hansbrough tried too hard.
Normally content to let the game come to him when he’s struggling with his shooting, Hansbrough had no choice
but to turn it up a notch after the Irish frittered away a 14-point lead in the second half under Louisville pressure.
But the Big East Player of the Year missed a Kemba Walker-like step-back jumper that would have won the game at the end of regulation. Then he missed two shots in the final minute of overtime that would have given the Irish a chance as Louisville rallied for an 83-77 win before a capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden t hat included former Presiden t Bill Clinton.
‘‘It’s a perfect example of someone who almost wanted it too much,’’ Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. ‘‘It was an emotional investment in him wanting it so bad that he tied himself in knots.
‘‘[But] he’s the reason we’re in this position. We just have to get him some rest and get him going again.’’
Hansbrough scored 13 points on 3-for-16 shooting. He missed two free throws with 3:53 to go in regulation and had six turnovers to go with five assists as Notre Dame (26-6) was denied its first Big East title game. No. 3 seed Louisville (25-8) plays No.  9 seed Connecticut tonight.
The Irish, who still hope to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, overcame Hansbrough’s 1-for-8 shooting in the first half to build a 46-32 lead. Scott Martin scored 13 of his 21 points on 5-for-7 shooting, and Tim Abromaitis added 12 of his 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the half.
But Louisville turned up the heat with backcourt pressure in the second half, relentlessly drove to the basket and threw Notre Dame off
kilter. The Irish shot 8-for-28 in the second half — 3-for-13 from three-point range — while being outrebounded 30-18. Louisville had 23 offensive rebounds for the game.
‘‘They took us apart [in t
he first half],’’ Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. ‘‘I said you’ve got one shot at winning this game — you’ve got to take their legs out from them and it’ll pay off in the end. They did a fabulous job.’’
Notre Dame still led 66-58 on a Hansbrough three-pointer with 6:35 to go. But after Martin grabbed an errant Louisville pass in the lane, Hansbrough tried the same shot and missed. The Cardinals scored eight unanswered points to tie the game at 66 with 2:47 to play.
Carleton Scott tied the game at 72 with 46 seconds left in regulation and Notre Dame had the final possession. But Hansbrough’s outside jumper missed.
Hansbrough’s three-pointer gave Notre Dame a 75-74 lead in overtime. But Louisville center Terrence Jennings (16 points, five rebounds) scored on a rebound, Abromaitis and Hansbrough missed, and Louisville guard Chris Smith hit two free throws to give the Cardinals an 81-77 lead with 18 seconds left.