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Louisville Survives A Late Surge From USF To Win And Advance For First Time Since 2017

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Basketball

BCSNN | UPI — Louisville returned to the NCAA Tournament win column for the first time in nearly a decade, holding off a furious South Florida comeback to earn an 83–79 victory in Thursday’s first round at KeyBank Center. The sixth‑seeded Cardinals (24–10) led by as many as 23 points in the second half before the 11th‑seeded Bulls (25–9) nearly completed what would have been the second‑largest comeback in tournament history.

Louisville’s last NCAA Tournament win came in 2017, and the victory also marked the first for second‑year head coach Pat Kelsey, who entered the night 0–4 in previous NCAA appearances at Winthrop and Charleston.

The Cardinals shot the lights out, finishing 28‑for‑52 from the field and 13‑for‑25 from three. But they also committed a season‑high 22 turnovers, which South Florida converted into 24 points to fuel its rally. Louisville’s defense ultimately held firm, limiting the Bulls to 5‑for‑33 from deep and 30‑for‑77 overall while allowing just 15 second‑chance points on 18 offensive rebounds.

Isaac McKneely led Louisville with 23 points on 8‑of‑11 shooting, including 7‑for‑10 from beyond the arc. Ryan Conwell added 18 points and six assists, Sananda Fru posted a 10‑point, 10‑rebound double‑double, and J’Vonne Hadley scored 10.

Louisville overcame a shaky start in which it made just two of its first 10 shots and committed four turnovers in the opening minutes. Once settled, the Cardinals ripped off a 19–4 run to take control, holding USF to 4‑for‑24 shooting to open the game and carrying a 37–27 lead into halftime.

South Florida opened the second half with a quick burst, but Louisville responded with a 21–6 run to build a 62–39 advantage. The Cardinals shot 16‑for‑22 in the second half, but their struggles against the Bulls’ full‑court press — 12 second‑half turnovers — allowed USF to trim the deficit to single digits with 5:24 remaining.

Louisville managed just one field goal in the final seven minutes, but its defense held the Bulls to 4‑for‑11 down the stretch, and timely free throws preserved the win.

Louisville advances to face either No. 3 seed Michigan State or No. 14 seed North Dakota State in Saturday’s Round of 32. Game time will be announced Thursday night.