CARDS SURVIVE SECOND-HALF SURGE IN BUFFALO

BUFFALO, NY - Louisville held off a strong second-half push from South Florida to secure an 83-79 win Thursday afternoon at KeyBank Center.

The Cardinals came out sharp, building a 10-point lead at halftime behind efficient shooting and strong ball movement. Louisville shot 40% in the first half and knocked down timely threes to control the pace early.

Offensively, Louisville turned it up another level after the break, shooting an impressive 72.7% in the second half. Isaac McKneely led the way with 23 points, hitting 7-of-10 from deep and stretching the defense all game. Ryan Conwell added 18 points and 6 assists, helping guide the offense and create key scoring opportunities.

South Florida didn’t go away quietly. Joseph Pinion poured in 27 points, while Izaiyah Nelson added 22 points and 9 rebounds. The Bulls attacked the paint and capitalized on turnovers, finishing with 24 points off giveaways.

Defensively, Louisville did just enough. Despite allowing 52 second-half points, they forced 22 turnovers and came up with key stops late. Their rebounding effort, led by Sananda Fru’s 10 boards, also helped limit second chances in crucial moments.

This was a full team effort for Louisville, with contributions up and down the roster. Bench production and timely shooting proved to be the difference as the Cardinals held on down the stretch.

Austin Stuckey, The Stable --

Photo Credit: University of Louisville Athletics