Cardinals Host New Mexico State on Sunday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville men's basketball returns home to host New Mexico State at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at the KFC Yum! Center. The game will stream on ACC Network Extra.

The Cardinals are coming off two losses in the Empire Classic in New York, falling on a last-second shot to No. 19/17 Texas and seeing a late lead slip away against Indiana. New Mexico State most recently dropped two games in Cancun, Mexico, to Fresno State on Tuesday and Southern Illinois on Wednesday.

Louisville holds a 4-1 all-time edge in the series and has won three straight, including the teams' last meeting in 2007.

GAME 6

New Mexico State (3-4) at Louisville (2-3)
November 26, 2023 | 1 p.m. CT
KFC Yum! Center | Louisville, Ky.

MEDIA INFO

Listen: Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9 FM & WGTK 970 AM flagship); Streaming (Paul Rogers, pxp | Bob Valvano, analysis)

Watch: ACC Network Extra/ESPN+ (Kent Taylor, pxp | Jody Demling, analysis)

Live Stats: Louisville Stats

TICKETS

Single-Game Tickets | Season Tickets

TOP STORYLINES

• After allowing UMBC and Chattanooga to make 25 of 55 combined 3-pointers (45.5%) in the first two games, the Cardinals have held Coppin State, Texas and Indiana to 6-for-45 from 3-point range (13.3%) in their last three outings.

• As of Wednesday, Louisville ranked 24th in the country in free throw attempts per game (26.6) and 39th in offensive rebounds per game (14.4). Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield ranked 35th in rebounds per game (9.8) and 50th in total rebounds (49).

• Freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson had a strong showing in his return to his native New York City, averaging 10 points and five assists against Texas and Indiana. Johnson now leads the Cardinals with 15 total assists this year.

• Despite playing just 12 minutes against Indiana, freshman forward Kaleb Glenn had a plus-minus in the game of +17. It was tied for the second-highest individual plus-minus in a game by a Cardinal this season.

• After going 0-for-8 from 3-point range in the team's first three games, sophomore guard Skyy Clark has made 6 of 15 long-range shots in the last two games. Clark was named to the Empire Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists against Texas and Indiana.

• Louisville has made 23 more free throws than its opponents this season. The Cardinals have made at least 21 free throws in three of five games this season, including both games in New York, where they went a combined 48 of 60.

HISTORY VS. NEW MEXICO STATE

Last Meeting: Louisville 70, New Mexico State 65
Dec. 22, 2007 | Louisville, Ky.

Andre McGee had 15 points, Earl Clark added 14 and Louisville held off pesky New Mexico State 70-65 in the Billy Minardi Classic.

The Cardinals hardly played their best game, shooting just 37 percent from the field against the Aggies in the game named after Louisville coach Rick Pitino's brother-in-law, who died in the terrorists attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

New Mexico State slowly chipped away at Louisville's 14-point lead, tightening the game to 68-65 on Jahmar Young's jumper with a minute to play.

Forward Juan Palacios, out since October with a right knee injury, hit two free throws with 22.9 seconds left to ice the game for Louisville on his only points of the game.

Terrence Williams had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Edgar Sosa chipped in with 10 points for Louisville, who was playing their second of five straight home games.

The first trip back to Freedom Hall for New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies, a former Louisville assistant, didn't produce the same result like the last two years he spent under Pitino.

Justin Hawkins was the lone bright spot for the Aggies, scoring 25 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Jonathan Gibson had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Young added 11 points for New Mexico State.

Palacios gave Louisville a much-needed lift off the bench. Wearing a brace on the knee, he entered with 17:17 to play in the first half to a standing ovation.

His defense and experience added depth to a Cardinals team that desperately needs another inside presence. Palacios, the last remaining contributor during Louisville's 2005 Final Four run, has been bothered by injuries the last three seasons.

The Aggies came out fast in the second half, narrowing the Cardinals' gap to 37-30. But it didn't last.

McGee hit four consecutive 3-pointers to put Louisville ahead 49-37, and the Cardinals leaned on their pressure defense the rest of the way.

New Mexico State took an early 8-6 lead, the only time the Aggies went ahead all game.

Williams hit two 3-pointers as Louisville scored 10 straight points to go ahead 32-17 midway through the opening half. Despite shooting just 30 percent in the half, Louisville managed to lead 35-23 at the break.

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Players Mentioned

Skyy Clark

Kaleb Glenn

Brandon Huntley-Hatfield

Ty-Laur Johnson

University of Louisville Athletics