Cardinals Rout Pepperdine in Dominant 85-63 Win

Sunday, December 17

LOUISVILLE, KY

2 p.m.

University of Louisville

Pepperdine

December 17, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box VIDEO: Kenny Payne Press Conference VIDEO: Huntley-Hatfield/Williams/James Press Conference VIDEO: Game Highlights Photo Gallery

By: Zach Greenwell

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville men's basketball dominated every facet Sunday against Pepperdine, rolling to an 85-63 rout at the KFC Yum! Center.

The Cardinals (5-6) set season highs in assists (17) and made 3-pointers (9), helping them lead by as much as 30 and secure their largest margin of victory since Dec. 14, 2021, against Southeastern Louisiana.

"First off, I am proud of the way guys played today, played with energy, played together," UofL head coach Kenny Payne said. "Seventeen assists goes to show that we are capable. I am always preaching that you are not playing against the opponent, but that you are playing against yourself. That means it that it doesn't matter who the opponent is, you have to conquer yourself. You have to go out and challenge the doubt that you may have, the fears that you may have and go out and perform. If you can conquer yourself, the opponent becomes easy. I thought we were aggressive and attacking. We did have some lulls that we talk about if we get up 10, 15, 20 points, we build on it. There were times when we let up and got casual and they got back into the game. But some of that is learning and being a young team."

Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield recorded his second straight double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead Louisville, which also got 19 points and six boards from redshirt sophomore guard/forward Mike James.

Freshman guard Curtis Williams contributed a career-high 16 points while knocking down 4 of 5 3-pointers.

The Cardinals outrebounded Pepperdine 43-27 and outscored the Waves 40-22 in the paint.

"I think for us as a team it's about knowing that whoever is out there on the floor will give 110 percent," Huntley-Hatfield said. "We have to make sure we're not making mental mistakes because we're tired. We just need to stay focused as much as possible. We need to know that if a team goes on a run, we will pick each other up and know that we're going to be okay and that we can go on a run ourselves. We just have to make sure our energy never wavers."

Louisville benefited from a slew of scoring runs throughout the game, including spurts of 11-2, 7-0 and 8-0 in the first half that helped make it 35-18 with 3:52 to play in the frame.

The Cardinals led 39-25 at the break, and after Pepperdine (5-8) trimmed it to 45-38 with 14:22 to go, they answered with a 10-0 run capped by a Williams 3.

Their largest led came at 81-51 after a 3-pointer by junior guard Hercy Miller at the 3:57 mark.

"I feel like this is a big step for us, especially after the effort we put in last game," James said. "We had to look at ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves 'Did we quit on ourselves, our teammates, and our coaches?' We all said 'no,' and just had to come out today and prove it, our next step is to come out and do it consistently. Once we do it consistently, we will be all right, but until we do that'll be our main goal."

Louisville shot 49% from the field, 56% from 3-point range and netted 12 of 16 free throws. Sophomore guard Tre White also reached double figures with 10 points and six rebounds.

Michael Ajayi led Pepperdine with 17 points and seven rebounds.

The Cardinals conclude 2023 at home Thursday with a rivalry matchup against No. 14/15 Kentucky. The game will air on ESPN.