Stanford defeats Louisville 80-76

Stanford Edges Louisville in Thrilling Conference Rematch

In a heart-stopping conference matchup, the No. 12-ranked Stanford Cardinal (20-4) pulled off an impressive 80-76 victory over visiting No. 15-ranked Louisville Cardinals (18-5) at Maples Pavilion on Sunday.

The home crowd was electric as Ebuka Okorie led the charge for Stanford, scoring a season-high 28 points on 2-5 three-point shooting and boasting a remarkable 50.0% field goal percentage. Chisom Okpara provided strong support with 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Despite the energetic home crowd, Louisville came close to pulling off the upset. Ryan Conwell paced the Cardinals with 18 points but struggled from beyond the arc at a dismal 2-14 clip (28.6% FG). Sananda Fru contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, and one assist for the away team.

Halftime proved pivotal in this tightly contested game, as Stanford maintained its slim lead of 35-34 heading into the second half. The Cardinals' defense stiffened significantly, limiting Louisville to just 42 points on 34 field goals (43.0% FG) compared to Stanford's 45 on 25 (46.0%) shooting.

Stanford's advantage proved substantial at times, with its largest lead reaching nine points. Conversely, the Cardinals narrowed the gap to three as time ticked down, but ultimately fell short of capturing the crucial conference victory.

The final margin was four points, a testament to the back-and-forth nature of this thrilling matchup between two top-tier programs. Stanford's superior rebounding and free throw shooting (21/31, 68% FT Rate) proved decisive factors in securing the win.

This victory marks Stanford's fourth consecutive conference triumph and keeps them firmly in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Cardinals' impressive season now stands as a formidable benchmark for their peers, especially in their home arena where they've shown resilience against top opponents.

A strong performance from Louisville demonstrates the strength of their roster but highlights the need to improve shooting consistency. As both teams continue their journeys through the conference schedule, fans can expect thrilling matchups like this one, pushing each program closer to its respective goals.

For now, Stanford stands tall as victors of a heart-stopping matchup that showcased two of college basketball's most talented squads.