LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Suddenly, Louisville's early season struggles seem a long time ago.

Marquette's Dwight Burke, left, battles Louisville's Terrence Williams for a rebound during the first half of their basketball game in Louisville, Ky., Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Terrence Williams scored 20 points and David Padgett had 17 points and 10 rebounds to help the Cardinals roll past No. 13 Marquette 71-51 on Thursday night.

Derrick Caracter added 11 points as Louisville (13-4, 3-1 Big East) dominated the Golden Eagles (13-3, 3-2), shutting down one of the Big East's most dynamic offenses with a suffocating zone defense that choked off passing lanes and controlled the lane.

Jerel McNeal led the Golden Eagles with 16 points and Wesley Matthews had 14, but Marquette shot just 30 percent from the field and got almost nothing from star guard Dominic James.

James scored a season-low three points before leaving with just over six minutes remaining after being fouled by Padgett. He held his right wrist before being helped to the bench. It's unclear whether he'll be able to play on Sunday when Marquette travels to Connecticut.

The rivalry has been marked by thrillers over the last decade, with 14 of the last 22 meetings being decided by five points or less or in overtime.

Not this time. Louisville took the lead two minutes in, using its size to power past Marquette's guard-heavy lineup. Looking inside to Padgett and Caracter on offense and extending the zone on defense, Louisville played with the kind of efficiency coach Rick Pitino has preached would come once the Cardinals finally got healthy.

Padgett, eight weeks removed from a fractured kneecap, continued to key Louisville's surge. He made 8 of 9 field goals, many of them tip-ins after he manuevered his way between bodies in the lane.

The Golden Eagles simply had no answer. They missed all 12 3-pointers and were overwhelmed in the lane. Louisville outrebounded Marquette 43-30 and contested nearly every Marquette shot.

Louisville broke it open with a 12-0 run early in the second half after Marquette cut it to 30-26. Padgett started it with a hook shot, the followed with a layup off a nifty pass from Edgar Sosa. Jerry Smith then harassed James into airballing a 3-pointer. Padgett tipped in a miss by Williams, who added an 18-footer on Louisville's next possession. Seldom-used guard Preston Knowles ended the run with a pullup jumper as Marquette coach Tom Crean glared at the officials for a no-call at the other end of the floor.

Marquette managed to make it 50-40 with just over eight minutes left, but an 11-2 Louisville run, capped by a 3-pointer from Williams, sealed Louisville's eighth win in nine games.

Louisville squandered an opportunity to bury the Golden Eagles early. Despite holding Marquette without a basket for nearly seven minutes and forcing the Golden Eagles into 25 percent shooting, Louisville only led 27-19 at the half.

Marquette managed to stay in it by forcing 11 Louisville turnovers, as the Golden Eagles got their hands into passing lanes, allowing them keep within striking distance despite their lowest scoring half of the season.

Things didn't get any better for Marquette after the break. Though the Golden Eagles were briefly able to get the deficit to four, Louisville withstood the onslaught and pulled away.