In an exhilarating matchup on Wednesday night, the Louisville men’s basketball team emerged victorious with an 80-71 road win over Miami. The Cardinals’ stellar performance in the final minutes, where they held Miami scoreless for 3:30 and scored nine consecutive points, secured their first true road win in their last 23 tries. Coach Kenny Payne expressed his pride in his team, highlighting their determination and resilience in the face of adversity.
Miami entered the game with an impressive home record, winning nine out of nine games at the Watsco Center this season. However, Louisville’s stout defense limited Miami’s high-powered offense to just 38.8% shooting, including a meager 27.8% in the second half. The Cardinals capitalized on the Hurricanes’ 13 turnovers, scoring 24 points off of them.
Redshirt sophomore guard/forward Mike James shined for Louisville, delivering a career-high 26 points. Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield showcased his skills with 22 points and nine rebounds. Freshman wing Curtis Williams made valuable contributions off the bench, tallying 13 points and five assists. Sophomore guard Skyy Clark displayed his versatility with nine points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
James made an immediate impact, scoring 16 points in the first seven minutes of the game, converting his first six shots, including four 3-pointers. His solo effort, where he scored ten consecutive points, propelled the Cardinals to an 18-10 lead. Miami managed to regain the upper hand with an 8-0 run, taking a 41-33 lead at the 1:16 mark. However, Johnson’s crucial baskets right before halftime narrowed the gap to 41-37.
The second half remained fiercely contested, with Miami extending their lead to eight. Yet, a splendid 7-0 run by Louisville, capped off with a Williams 3-pointer, tied the game at 57 with 9:56 remaining. A basket from Huntley-Hatfield and a 3-pointer from James gave Louisville a 71-66 advantage with five minutes left. Miami fought back, leveling the score at 71 with a dunk from Matthew Cleveland. However, the Hurricanes failed to find the basket again, allowing the Cardinals to seal the victory with free throws and a layup by Clark.
Louisville’s efficient shooting played a pivotal role, as they connected on 49% of their attempts from the field and made 10 3-pointers. They also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 14 out of 16 attempts. Miami’s Matthew Cleveland led his team with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
The Cardinals will now return home to face NC State at the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. Mike James acknowledged the significance of the win, stating that it demonstrated their ability to compete against top ACC teams while motivating them to maintain this level of play in future games.
