Cards' Defensive Effort Powers 61-41 Victory Over Coppin State

Wednesday, November 15

LOUISVILLE, KY

7 p.m.

University of Louisville

2-1,0-0ACC

Coppin State

0-4,0-0MEAC

Coppin St.

Louisville

Cards' Defensive Effort Powers 61-41 Victory Over Coppin State

November 15, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box VIDEO: Kenny Payne Press Conference VIDEO: Tre White/Skyy Clark Press Conference VIDEO: Game Highlights Photo Gallery

By: Zach Greenwell

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville men's basketball locked down defensively Wednesday, stifling Coppin State in a 61-41 victory at the KFC Yum! Center.

The Cardinals (2-1) held the Eagles to 28% from the floor and just 17% from 3-point range. Coppin State's 41 points were the fewest allowed by Louisville since holding Central Arkansas to 41 on Dec. 5, 2018.

It was just the third time since 2016 that UofL has allowed 41 points or less.

"That is a good sign of what we are capable of being defensively," Louisville head coach Kenny Payne said. "As you can tell, and as you see we beat a team by 20 and didn't play well, didn't play great. That shows me that we have a lot of room to grow and get better. It starts with our confidence and our work ethic and starts with our energy. We are a team capable of beating people, but we have to understand the responsibilities and obligations that each person has to make sure we are a good team."

The Cards broke open a 21-19 game with a 9-0 run in the first half, using six straight points from sophomore guard Tre White and a three-point play by redshirt sophomore guard/forward Mike James to make it 30-19 with 3:14 left in the half.

A basket by James with 1:15 to play gave Louisville a 32-21 halftime advantage, and another 8-0 run early in the second half extended the lead to 40-23.

The Cardinals led by as much as 22 with 1:21 to go, going deep into the bench with 14 players in action.

"I feel like as a unit we're playing a lot more like how we play in practice," White said. "I don't know if it was just the first couple of games, nerves or something. But we're playing together how we play in practice: sharing the ball, playing fast and we mimicked that today."

James led Louisville with 12 points, while White had his first career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Skyy Clark also found double figures with 10 points and five boards, and freshmen Curtis Williams and Ty-Laur Johnson each chipped in eight points.

"I think our defense was a lot better tonight," Clark said. "I think we were more connected on the defensive side of the ball. We really showed some potential there. Also, on offense in the second half, we started sharing the ball a lot more and shots started coming easier to us."

Justin Winston's 13 points paced Coppin State (0-4).

Louisville will now leave the KFC Yum! Center for the first time this season to compete in the 2023 Saatva Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire.

The Cardinals will open the tournament against No. 19/17 Texas at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will air on ESPN.