Louisville survived a late push from Miami on Saturday escaping with a 92–89 win in a game that turned into an offensive showcase down the stretch. The Cardinals leaned on an efficient shooting night and timely plays in the final seconds to secure the victory after the Hurricanes briefly grabbed the lead in the closing minute.
Louisville shot an impressive 61-percent from the field 33-for-54 and knocked down 12 of 24 from beyond the arc, a level of offensive efficiency that helped them withstand Miami’s own hot shooting night. Ryan Conwell led the Cardinals with 24 points, connecting on four three pointers and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. J’Vonne Hadley added 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting, while both Isaac McKneely and Adrian Wooley chipped in 15 points apiece to give Louisville four players in double figures.
Despite leading by as many as 12 early in the second half, Louisville had to fend off a furious Miami rally. The Hurricanes surged late behind Tre Donaldson, who poured in a game-high 25 points on an efficient 11 of 16 shooting while also dishing out six assists. Donaldson’s layup with two seconds remaining cut the deficit to 91–89 and set up a dramatic finish. Moments later, the Hurricanes fouled Louisville’s Sananda Fru with one second left. Fru split the free throws, pushing the Cardinals’ lead to three and sealing the outcome. Miami was unable to get another shot off before time expired.
Wooley played a critical role in the closing stretch, finishing with 15 points and six assists, including a clutch three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining that gave Louisville an 89–87 edge. While Miami held a slight advantage on the glass, 26–22, Louisville protected the ball well with just seven turnovers and consistently capitalized on its offensive opportunities. In a game that featured strong offensive performances on both sides, Louisville’s balance, shooting efficiency, and late game execution proved to be just enough to outlast Miami in a tightly contested finish.
The Cards have wrapped up the regular season and now have their eyes set on the ACC tournament. They’re locked in as the 6-seed and will next take the floor on Wednesday at 2:30 pm to face the winner of the game between the 11 and 14 seeds.
Highlights
Pat Kelsey presser
