Live Blog: Louisville vs. North Carolina
After ending a two-game losing streak with a 90-66 victory over Syracuse on Wednesday, Louisville men's basketball hosts North Carolina at the KFC Yum! Center Feb. 22. The Cardinals (22-5 overall, 13-3 in the ACC) begin Saturday atop the conference standings following their best start in six years in the ACC.
David Johnson and Malik Williams started for the first time this season in Louisville's victory over Syracuse as five Cardinals scored in double figures.
Louisville will honor the 2005 Final Four during a media timeout during the game to recognize the 15-year anniversary.
North Carolina (10-16 overall, 3-12 in the ACC) has lost six straight games with four of those losses coming by two points or fewer. The Tar Heels lost to Notre Dame 77-76 in South Bend on Monday. Cole Anthony leads North Carolina in scoring with 19.5 points per game.
Follow along for live updates and analysis.
Louisville starters: Dwayne Sutton, Jordan Nwora, Malik Williams, David Johnson, Ryan McMahon
North Carolina starters: Armano Bacot, Garrison Brooks, Leaky Black, Cole Anthony, Christian Keeling.
Carolina has a pair of misses in their opening two possessions while the Cardinals commit back-to-back turnovers.
After a handful of drive-and-kicks, guard David Johnson knocks down the open jumper for the first Cardinal points of the afternoon.
At the first media timeout, we're tied at 3-3 with 15:56 to play in the first half.
Johnson commits a turnover on one end, but comes back on the fast break and gives the ball back to the Cardinals. Louisville up 5-3 five minutes in.
Louisville having an issue stringing together stops in this stretch of play. They connected on three consecutive shots, but have allowed UNC to match.
At 11:19 to play, U of L leads 13-9. Three of Louisville's five made field goals are from three.
Nearly four minutes without a basket is ended with a jumper from guard Darius Perry. UNC still looking for points in this window of play. Louisville leads 17-11.
A corner 3-pointer from Nwora gives Louisville a 20-14 lead with 6:09 to play. The Cardinals are 8-of-19 from the field with four baskets coming from three. Louisville is out-rebounding North Carolina 14-8.
Carolina cuts into the lead with a 3-pointer. Guard Cole Anthony leads UNC with eight points.
Johnson with the in-and-out and contested lay-in puts their lead at six. Johnson, Perry and center Malik Williams all have five points, respectively.
Johnson finds Williams on the low block, who slams it home over the UNC defender. Louisville up nine.
Guard Lamarr Kimble gets the steal and finishes on the fast break as Louisville holds their biggest lead of the night at 11. Head coach Chris Mack calls a time with 29.9 seconds to play in the half.
Kimble with a tough jumper ends the half. Louisville up 36-23.
Louisville team halftime stats: 15-of-29 from the field (52 percent), 6-of-15 from three (40 percent), seven turnovers, eight assists, 20 rebounds (14 defensive), eight points off turnovers.
Louisville player leaders: Nwora with nine points (4-of-7), five rebounds and two turnovers. Williams has seven points with four rebounds. Perry and Johnson both have five points. Johnson has added three assists.
North Carolina team halftime stats: 9-of-25 from the field (36 percent), 3-of-10 from three (0 percent), eight turnovers, four assists, 11 rebounds (nine defensive), three points off turnovers.
North Carolina player leaders: Anthony with 10 points (4-of-8), three rebounds and four turnovers. Guard Andrew Platek with six points and two rebounds.
North Carolina struggling to find the bottom of the net at the start of the second half. Nwora connects on a pair of free throws to put the Cardinals up 41-23.
Carolina with another miss, Nwora makes a 3-pointer to make the Louisville lead 21 with 15:17 to play.
Kimble and Perry enter the game as Louisville leads 50-28 with 13:13 to play.
Media timeout hits and the Cardinals still own a 22-point lead. Nwora has nine points in the second half. Louisville is shooting 5-of-13 this half while Carolina is 3-of-15.
A 7-0 run from UNC cuts the Louisville lead to 15 with seven minutes to play.
Two minutes left, Cards up 67-51.
Louisville finishes the game with a pair of shots in the final 60 seconds. Cardinals win 72-55.
