In a disappointing loss, the Louisville men’s basketball team fell 83-70 to Pitt at the KFC Yum! Center. Despite outshooting the Panthers from the field and the 3-point line, the Cardinals couldn’t overcome turnovers and Pitt’s success at the free-throw line and behind the arc.
Louisville head coach Kenny Payne acknowledged Pitt’s strong performance, saying, “They shoot the ball well. They play with swagger. They are tough. They are a great rebounding team.” Payne pointed out that the Cardinals started the game on the backfoot, allowing Pitt to dominate the boards. He emphasized the importance of mental focus and consistency in order to achieve victory.
Pitt took an early lead, scoring the first six points of the game and extending it to 12 points with 8:00 left in the first half. However, Louisville fought back with a 13-4 run, narrowing the gap to three points by halftime.
At the start of the second half, Pitt once again surged ahead, building a 14-point lead. But Louisville’s redshirt sophomore guard/forward Mike James ignited a rally with three consecutive 3-pointers, bringing the game to 57-50 with 11:40 remaining. Unfortunately, Pitt responded with a 10-0 run that put the game out of reach for the Cardinals.
James led the scoring for Louisville with 23 points, including five successful 3-point shots. Sophomore guard Skyy Clark and freshman wing Curtis Williams contributed 11 points each, while freshman forward Kaleb Glenn provided 10 points and seven rebounds. Glenn expressed his growing confidence on the court, stating, “I feel like I’m getting way more comfortable as I’m out there more, just playing with energy and effort, trying to make winning plays.”
The Cardinals faced additional challenges with a limited roster, as they only had seven scholarship players in uniform and ten players overall. Senior forward JJ Traynor’s season-ending shoulder injury further exacerbated their woes. Despite the setbacks, the team remains focused on staying prepared and stepping up when needed.
Pitt’s Blake Hinson led his team in scoring with 21 points. Up next, Louisville will hit the road for a game against Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The Cardinals will face Miami on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with the game airing on ACC Network.
