Highlights, Photos and Notes: Louisville 78, Eastern Kentucky 76

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville men's basketball program was able to avoid a complete disaster on Saturday, needing some last-second heroics to take down Eastern Kentucky 78-76 on Saturday. Noah Waterman hit the go-ahead layup with 1.2 seconds left.

The Atlantic Coast Conference put together a highlight tape of the matchup, which you can see here:

Team Notes:

KEY FIRST HALF RUN: Louisville used a 16-4 run spanning 2:34 to stretch the lead to 15 late in the first half. The run was capped off by a three-point basket by Terrence Edwards Jr who scored eight of his 17 first half points during the Cardinals' run.
KEY SECOND HALF RUN: Eastern Kentucky fought back to start the second half, going on an 18-4 run that elapsed 4:31, to give the Colonels a 61-59 advantage for their first lead since 17:56 in the first half. UofL answered with a run of their own, using a 12-0 run to stretch the lead back to double digits with 6:31 remaining to bring the score to 71-61.
Louisville shot 24-64 (44.8%) from the field, 11-36 (30.6%) from deep and 19-24 (79.2%) from the free-throw line.
The Cards had five players in double figures including Terrence Edwards Jr. (20), J’Vonne Hadley (15), Chucky Hepburn (14), Noah Waterman (12), and Reyne Smith (12).
This win marks the first time in eight years where Louisville has won a game with only six players scoring. The last time came in 2016 after a 73-70 win vs. Kentucky on December 21.
The Cardinals out-rebounded EKU 47-32.

Player Notes:

Terrence Edwards Jr. earned his fifth 20-point game of the season and the 21st of his collegiate career with 20 points to go along with eight rebounds and an assist, steal and block. Edwards shot 50% from the field and from behind the arc, going 6-12 and 3-6, respectively.
J'Vonne Hadley posted his fourth double-double this season, his seventh of his career, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 boards to go along with three steals and two blocks.
Chucky Hepburn chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and a steal in 33 minutes of action.
Reyne Smith contributed 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 32 minutes of play off the bench.
Noah Waterman had 12 points, three rebounds and an assist on the afternoon. Waterman hit the game-winning layup to put Louisville ahead by a point with a second remaining in the game.

Gallery:

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Terrence Edwards Jr. (5) reacts during the second half against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Chucky Hepburn (24) scrambles to get the ball from Eastern Kentucky Colonels forward Mayar Wol (1) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Terrence Edwards Jr. (5) shoots the ball against Eastern Kentucky Colonels guard George Kimble III (3) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Chucky Hepburn (24) shoots the ball against Eastern Kentucky Colonels guard Turner Buttry (0) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Eastern Kentucky Colonels guard Jordan Crawford (2) attempts to steal the ball from Louisville Cardinals guard Reyne Smith (6) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard J'Vonne Hadley (1) shoots the ball against Eastern Kentucky Colonels forward Yvens Paul (21) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Chucky Hepburn (24) dribbles the ball against Eastern Kentucky Colonels guard George Kimble III (3) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Chucky Hepburn (24) shoots the ball against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey reacts during the second half against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Terrence Edwards Jr. (5) shoots the ball against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals center Frank Anselem-Ibe (13) blocks a shot against Eastern Kentucky Colonels guard George Kimble III (3) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard J'Vonne Hadley (right) drives to the basket against Eastern Kentucky Colonels forward Mayar Wol (left) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) posts up against Eastern Kentucky Colonels guard Jordan Crawford (2) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) pulls down a rebound against Eastern Kentucky Colonels guard Tyler Andrews (25) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dec 28, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Eastern Kentucky Colonels forward Devontae Blanton (right) dribbles the ball against Louisville Cardinals guard Chucky Hepburn (24) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

NOTE: Photos courtesy of Jamie Rhodes.

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