By Chris Duncan
The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - The Louisville Cardinals have learned how to finish games. It's the starts that are becoming a problem.

Reece Gaines scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half as the No. 19 Cardinals rallied from their third double-digit, first-half deficit in four games to beat Saint Louis 73-54 on Saturday.

Louisville (10-1, 2-0 Conference USA) missed 10 of its first 11 shots and trailed 19-6.

The Cardinals closed the deficit to 26-24 by halftime, despite shooting 24 percent from the field (5-of-21), including 17 percent (2-of-12) from 3-point range.

"Tonight was disturbing because of what we did in the first half," said Louisville coach Rick Pitino. "We're too mature and experienced to have to learn in the second half."

Gaines isn't sure why the Cardinals struggle in the first half. Louisville were down 11 to Kentucky on Dec. 28 and by 18 at Ohio State on Jan. 4, but came back to win both games.

"I'm definitely worried about the beginnings of the games," said Gaines, who missed six of seven shots in the first half, but finished 8-for-14. "We've got to execute better and not take bad shots."

Gaines gathered the team before the second half began on Saturday.

"Reece is our leader," said freshman Francisco Garcia, who scored 13 points. "He told us we have to run our offense and play better defense. We did what he told us to do. We listen to him like we listen to Coach."

Gaines has made a habit of firing up his teammates during games.

"I've got to make sure I get the guys ready and make sure they take every game as a championship game," he said.

Louisville was a different team after the halftime break.

Erik Brown hit a jumper from the wing and Gaines scored on a layup to give Louisville its first lead, 90 seconds into the second half.

The game went through three ties and three lead changes before Gaines scored inside to start Louisville's decisive 15-2 spurt. He had eight points in the run.

"We had a great player take over the game," Pitino said.

The Billikens (6-7, 0-2), averaging only 61 points, committed seven turnovers in the first 11 minutes of the second half. They went three minutes without scoring before Diener's 3-pointer with 8:39 remaining cut Louisville's lead to 50-40.

But Taquan Dean made two free throws, and Garcia had a breakaway layup to extend Louisville's lead to 14 points, and it soon grew to 20.

"The outcome of the game had more to do with how well they played and not how poorly we played," Saint Louis coach Brad Soderberg said.

Gaines left the game near the three-minute mark. Pitino shook his hand before he reached the bench.

"That a boy, Reece. Way to take over the game," Pitino said.

Saint Louis senior point guard Perry was only 2-for-11 from the field Saturday and scored seven points. He averaged 18 points in Saint Louis' two victories over Louisville last season.

"What we wanted to do is put everybody on him and not let anyone wear out," Pitino said. "I was hoping he wouldn't have any legs left in the last 10 minutes."

Louisville won its ninth straight game and is off to its best start since the 1996-97 squad started 15-1.

The Cardinals have won their seven home games by an average of 23 points.