In a thrilling matchup at Madison Square Garden, the No. 19/17 Texas Longhorns emerged victorious over the Louisville Cardinals with a buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper by Max Abmas. The final score was 81-80 in favor of Texas.
Louisville’s sophomore guard, Skyy Clark, showcased his clutch shooting by sinking a crucial 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining to give the Cardinals an 80-78 lead. However, the Longhorns responded with a free throw and then capitalized on a shot clock violation to gain possession with 7.9 seconds left. That’s when Abmas sealed the deal with his game-winning shot.
Despite the loss, Louisville head coach Kenny Payne expressed confidence in his team’s performance. He acknowledged the importance of defensive rebounding, stating, “When you give offensive rebounds to teams like that, it’s going to eventually come back and get you.” Payne also emphasized his belief in the talent and potential of his team, saying, “We’re not perfect, we’ve got a long way to go, but we have the components to cause people problems.”
Louisville had a balanced scoring effort, with five players reaching double figures. Clark and sophomore guard Tre White led the team with 20 points each. Clark also contributed five rebounds and four assists, while White grabbed seven boards. Additionally, freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson made a substantial impact off the bench with 14 points and six assists, showcasing his skills in his Brooklyn homecoming. Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and senior forward JJ Traynor each added 11 points and combined for 15 rebounds.
Texas initially took control of the game, leading 16-7 in the early stages. However, Louisville responded with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to two. The Cardinals then regained the lead multiple times throughout the game, resulting in an intense battle featuring 21 lead changes and 14 ties.
Clark acknowledged Texas’ formidable lineup but also expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating, “They have a great coach, great guards and a few good big men. I think we showed a lot of people that we can compete with them, though.”
Despite shooting only 2-for-17 from beyond the arc, the Longhorns compensated with a dominating presence in the paint, scoring 48 points and securing 17 offensive rebounds. Kadin Shedrick led Texas with an impressive 27 points.
Looking ahead, Louisville will face regional rival Indiana in the consolation game of the Empire Classic on ESPNU.
