Virginia defeats Louisville 70-79
Virginia Wins Thrilling Conference Game at Louisville
The University of Louisville's KFC Yum! Center played host to a high-stakes conference matchup on Wednesday night, as the 13th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers came to town looking to extend their winning streak against the Cardinals.
In a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams trade baskets and neither able to gain a decisive advantage, Virginia ultimately emerged victorious, taking down Louisville 79-70 in a game that was decided by nine points. The victory marks Virginia's first win this season against an unranked opponent, and serves as a significant boost to their conference standings.
The key turning point came at halftime, when the Cavaliers took a slim 33-28 lead after outscoring Louisville on the glass 14-17. From there, Virginia maintained its advantage, using a strong effort from Malik Thomas (19 points, 6-8 three-point shooting) and Chance Mallory (7 points, 4 assists) to keep the Cardinals at bay.
Isaac McKneely led Louisville's charge with 23 points on 5-of-14 three-point shooting, while Ryan Conwell chipped in with seven rebounds and 14 points. The Cardinals' offense struggled to find its footing throughout the night, making just 36% of their field goal attempts and 26% of their three-pointers.
As for Virginia, they shot a more respectable 40% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc. Their strong rebounding effort – led by Dallin Hall's 12 boards – allowed them to limit Louisville's second-chance opportunities and ultimately secure the win.
The victory marks another test of wills for both teams, with Virginia coming away as the clear victor in a game that had all the makings of an instant classic. The win sets up a crucial matchup next week against rival Duke, while Louisville looks to bounce back from the loss against a tough Syracuse schedule.
Game Stats and Advanced Metrics
Louisville (HOME)
* Field Goals: 24/67 (36.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 14/29 (48.3%)
* 3-Point FG: 10/38 (26.0%)
* Free Throws: 12/18 (67.0%)
* Rebounds: 36
* Assists: 13
* Turnovers: 8
* Steals: 8
* Blocks: 2
Virginia (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 21/53 (40.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 7/19 (36.8%)
* 3-Point FG: 14/34 (41.0%)
* Free Throws: 23/29 (79.0%)
* Rebounds: 44
* Assists: 15
* Turnovers: 13
* Steals: 4
* Blocks: 9
Key Advanced Metrics
* Louisville eFG%: 43.3%
* Virginia eFG%: 52.8%
* Louisville True Shooting%: 46.7%
* Virginia True Shooting%: 60.1%