Cardinals dominate inside, control the glass and deliver a decisive second half performance ahead of regular season opener
Louisville used a dominant second half performance to pull away from Mercyhurst for a 71-39 victory Wednesday night, closing its preseason schedule with a convincing showing on both ends of the floor. The Cardinals, who held a nine-point advantage at halftime, outscored Mercyhurst 41-19 after the break to turn a competitive first half into a comfortable 32-point win.
The difference came down to Louisville’s physicality and ability to establish itself inside. The Cardinals finished with 56 points in the paint and collected 51 rebounds, consistently winning the battles around the basket. That interior advantage helped Louisville generate offense even while its perimeter shooting struggled to find consistency.
Louisville carried a 30-21 lead into halftime after a first half in which neither team found a particularly comfortable offensive rhythm. Flory Bidunga provided an early spark for the Cardinals, recording seven points and a game-high six rebounds before the break. His production on the glass helped set the tone for a Louisville team that increasingly imposed its size and strength as the game progressed.
The Cardinals found another level offensively in the second half. Shooting 57-percent from the field after halftime, Louisville scored 41 points in the final 20 minutes while limiting Mercyhurst to just 19. The improved efficiency allowed the Cardinals to steadily extend their lead, putting the game out of reach without needing a strong performance from beyond the arc.
Despite the decisive final margin, Louisville still has areas to address before the regular season begins. The Cardinals struggled from three-point range, shooting approximately 15-percent for the game after going 0-for-6 from beyond the arc in the first half. Free throw shooting also proved inconsistent, with Louisville converting just 52-percent of its attempts at the line. Those numbers could become more significant against tougher competition, particularly in games where opportunities in the paint are harder to come by.
Alongside Bidunga, Karter Knox, Seth Trimble, Alvaro Folgueiras, and De’Shayne Montgomery contributed to Louisville’s overall effort. While the Cardinals’ offensive production was led by their work inside, the collective performance reflected a team capable of creating scoring opportunities through rebounding, interior touches, and sustained pressure on the opposition.
Defensively, Louisville’s ability to limit Mercyhurst to 39 points was among the night’s most encouraging developments. The Cardinals controlled the tempo after halftime, protected the paint and used their rebounding advantage to limit the opposition’s opportunities. Holding Mercyhurst to 19 second half points demonstrated the defensive intensity Louisville will look to carry into the regular season.
The victory offers Louisville a positive final tuneup before the games begin to count. The Cardinals showed they can dictate the physical terms of a contest, dominate the interior, and turn a modest halftime lead into a decisive victory. However, improved perimeter shooting and greater efficiency at the free throw line will remain important points of emphasis moving forward.
Louisville is scheduled to open its regular season against Chattanooga on Nov. 2 at the KFC Yum Center!, with tipoff set for 9 p.m. The Cardinals will look to build on Wednesday’s performance as they transition from preseason preparation to regular season competition, where maintaining their interior dominance while improving their shooting efficiency could prove critical to their early success.
