In a game that felt like it might slip away in the second half, Louisville leaned on shot making and timely execution to survive a furious South Florida rally, holding on for an 83–79 win Thursday at KeyBank Center.
Louisville (24-10, 11-7 ACC) built its cushion early, riding a hot perimeter start to a 37–27 halftime lead. The Cardinals knocked down seven first half threes and controlled the tempo, keeping South Florida’s offense out of rhythm as the Bulls struggled to just 28.6% shooting and a frigid 1-for-17 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
Howevet, the second half flipped the script entirely. South Florida came out aggressive, attacking the paint and pushing the pace behind Joseph Pinion and Izaiyah Nelson. Pinion poured in a game high 27 points, while Nelson added 22 and dominated stretches inside. The Bulls shot nearly 48% after the break and outscored Louisville 52–46 in the half, trimming the deficit to a single possession in the final minutes.
Still Louisville had the answers when it mattered most. Isaac McKneely delivered a lights out performance, finishing with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including a scorching 7-of-10 from three-point range. His perimeter shooting served as the backbone of Louisville’s offense, especially during key stretches when South Florida threatened to take control.
The Cardinals were at their most efficient in the second half, shooting an eye popping 72.7% from the field and 75% from three, capitalizing on nearly every defensive lapse by the Bulls. Ryan Conwell added 18 points, while Sananda Fru chipped in a double-double effort with 10 points and 10 rebounds, helping Louisville win the battle on the glass, 41–37.
South Florida’s inability to convert from deep ultimately proved costly. Despite generating 24 points off turnovers and dominating the paint with 44 points, the Bulls shot just 5-for-33 from three-point range, a deficit too steep to overcome against a Louisville team that made 13 threes at a 52% clip.
In a game that featured just two lead changes and two ties, Louisville’s early control and elite shooting efficiency were just enough to withstand South Florida’s late surge, punching their ticket forward with a hard fought March victory. They look forward to a second round matchup with Michigan State on Saturday.
