Louisville basketball defeats No. 2 Virginia 59-57
Louisville basketball welcomed in a one-loss Virginia Cavalier team to the KFC Yum! Center tonight with a lot on the line, even though the Cavaliers were predicted a three point favorite on Louisville’s floor.
The contest was expected to be a good one, and it didn’t disappoint by any means. Louisville was fired up and ready to go early, as the Cardinals had a 10-3 lead at the first media timeout thanks to two three pointers and a jumper and then layup. The pace was kept for UofL as they still lead, but by nine at the 10 minute mark of the first half. Montrezl Harrell had six points at that point and the Cards needed every one of them.
Louisville Cardinals
Virginia went on a little run and made things interesting, as the Cardinal lead was cut to five with 2:27 to play in the first twenty minutes. Eight more points were scored to end the half, as Louisville held a 30-25 lead over the Cavs. Harrell led the Cards with eight points and five rebounds while
had nine points for Virginia at intermission.
The Cavaliers opened the second half on a small 7-6 run to cut Louisville’s lead to four at 36-32 at the final first media timeout. Virginia then went on an 8-4 run to tie the game up at 40-all at the 13 minute mark of the match. Things continued to go back-and-forth and get really interesting.
It got even more interesting after Evan Nolte knocked down a three pointer for the Cavs to tie the game up at 52 with 4:08 to play. Rick Pitino then called a 30 second timeout. Out of that timeout, Wayne Blackshear drove in and scored in the lane to make the scoreboard change to 54-52. Virginia then came down the court and went for a fast three pointer – miss and Harrell grabbed the board.
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then knocked down a pull up jumper to put the team up four with 1:52 to go. Virginia, all of sudden, then scored five straight points including a three pointer by
to give the Cavaliers a 57-56 lead with 13 seconds left.
Here we go!
Rick Pitino lets five seconds run off, then calls a full timeout to try and set up a game-winning shot. Mangok Mathiang would get the in bounds pass, dribble to the free throw line, he shoots, and scores. Oh, and it was Mathiang’s first shot of the game, and just his second made field goal since February.
A Rozier free throw would seal the deal for the Cardinals in the 58-57 win.
Harrell turned the production up in the second half and finished the evening with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists. Rozier and Quentin Snyder both had 11 points while Blackshear added nine.
Brogdon paced the Cavaliers with 17 points and six boards. Darion Atkins added 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Not only is defeating the #2 team in the nation big enough for the Cards, but they also clinch the #4 seed in the ACC tournament and will get a double-bye, and will face either Boston College, Georgia Tech or UNC. You can see the whole bracket here.