Louisville closed this one with authority, even if the box score doesn’t fully capture how lopsided the final stretch felt. The Cardinals didn’t make a field goal over the last 3:27, but it hardly mattered. Baylor simply couldn’t generate enough offense to threaten. Louisville leaned on shot making early, then survived late on the strength of free throws, rebounding, and defensive stops to secure the 82–71 win.
The difference was efficiency, especially from deep. Louisville hit 8-of-18 from three (44-percent), while Baylor went ice cold at 2-of-22. That gap decided the game. Baylor’s shooters kept firing, but miss after miss turned into run outs, fouls, and free points the other way.
Louisville finished 56-percent from the field, scoring just enough before slamming the door defensively. Baylor’s last meaningful chance came with 22 seconds left, when Yessoufou missed a contested three that sealed it.
Mikel Brown Jr. was the engine all night, pouring in 29 points on 8-of-14 shooting and a perfect 9-for-9 from the line, while adding six assists. J’Vonne Hadley matched that efficiency, scoring 20 on 7-of-10 shooting and grabbing five boards. Even during the late scoring drought, Louisville never looked rattled as they protected the ball, controlled the glass, and forced Baylor into rushed possessions and low percentage looks.
For Baylor, the numbers tell a brutal story. The Bears shot just 36.7-percent overall and an anemic 9.1-percent from three, with Carr and Agbim combining to go 1-for-18 from the field. They got to the line often, but empty possessions piled up late.
Louisville didn’t need style points down the stretch just stops, rebounds, and composure and that was more than enough to finish the job.
The Cards are in action Tuesday night against SMU at 7 pm.
