Highlights, Photos and Notes: Louisville 104, SC State 45

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2025-26 season for the Louisville men's basketball program couldn't have started much better, as they captured an emphatic 104-45 victory over South Carolina State in their first game of the new hoops year.

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

Team Notes:

KEY FIRST HALF RUN: The Cardinals made their first five shots of the game, putting together a 13-0 run in the first 4:02, which ended with a Bulldog free throw. After another Bulldog free throw with 14:46 remaining in the first half, the Cardinals went on a 9-0 run resulting in a 24-2 Cardinal lead. The Cardinals 44-point halftime lead is the largest in program history, surpassing the previous record of 42 points on March 13, 2014, against , where Louisville led 58-16 at halftime.
KEY SECOND HALF RUN: The Cards started the half with a 17-2 run, creating a 59-point differential between Louisville and South Carolina State by the 13:04 mark.
Louisville shot 33 of 62 (53.2%) from the field, 12 of 32 (37.5%) from deep and 26 for 33 (78.8%) from the free-throw line.
This was the Cards first time scoring 100 points against an opponent since facing Bellarmine on Nov. 19, 2024.
This game marked the Cardinals largest margin of victory (59) since defeating Morehead St 104-40 on Dec. 27, 2004.
Tonight’s victory produced UofL’s first 50-point win since defeating Southern on Nov. 13, 2018.
Louisville’s win marked the first time five Cardinals scored in double figures since Feb. 16, 2025, at Notre Dame
The Cardinals defense allowed fewer than 20 pts in half (first half) for the first time since a 68-48 victory vs. Stanford (18 pts, first half) on March 8, 2025.

Player Notes:

Khani Rooths logged a team-high 20 points in 21 minutes, marking his first 20-point game as a Cardinal as well as his first game leading the team in scoring. He added on seven rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. The forward had eight field goals on 12 attempts, one of which came from deep.
Isaac McKneely tallied 17 points for the Cards, 15 of which came from beyond the arc. McKneely added in four rebounds and a steal in 22 minutes. McKneely recorded five of the team’s 12 total three-point field goals, shooting 45% on 12 attempts.
J'Vonne Hadley scored 13 points, adding nine rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 21 minutes of action. Hadley’s 10+ point outing was his 27th in a UofL uniform, and his team-high nine rebounds was his 17th time leading the team.
Ryan Conwell scored 12 points in his Cardinal debut, recording a team-high seven free throws. Conwell added three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Gallery:

Louisville Cardinals South Carolina State — Nov 3, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) passes against the South Carolina State Bulldogs during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated South Carolina State 104-45. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

NOTE: Photos courtesy of Jamie Rhodes (Imagn Images) and Matt Stone (Courier Journal).

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