
Cards Drop Road Contest at No. 4/3 North Carolina
January 18, 2024 | Men's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Louisville men's basketball fought back to make it a battle in the second half Wednesday with No. 4/3 North Carolina, before ultimately falling 86-70 on the road.
Â
The Cardinals (6-11, 1-5 ACC) trailed by 17 at halftime and as much as 20 in the first half, but cut their deficit to five with 12:40 remaining in the game.
Â
North Carolina answered with a 13-5 burst, and UofL didn't get closer than eight the rest of the way.
Â
"They are a team that could easily win a championship this year," Louisville head coach Kenny Payne said. "We knew that coming in. We knew we had to play lights-out to come in here and get a win. I thought we played hard, I thought we fought, but there are no good efforts and moral victories with this program that I'm at. I want to win games, and I want these guys that are in that jersey to know what it feels like to go into North Carolina and win a game."
Â
An early 11-0 run by the Tar Heels gave them a 15-4 lead to start the game at the 15:04 mark following three straight 3-pointers.
Â
Louisville committed nine turnovers in the first half while UNC shot 50% from the floor to build a 46-29 halftime advantage.
Â
The Cardinals caught fire offensively to open the second half, making nine of their first 10 shots and seven straight at one point.
Â
Redshirt sophomore guard/forward Mike James' 3-pointer trimmed North Carolina's lead to 55-50 with 12:40 left.
Â
On the next possession, UNC's RJ Davis was fouled on a long fadeaway 3 and made all three free throws. That sparked a 13-5 Carolina run that made it 68-55 at the 8:02 mark.
Â
Sophomore guard Skyy Clark's 3 with 6:28 to play again pulled UofL within 70-62, but that was the Cards' last threat. The Tar Heels (14-3, 6-0) went on a 9-0 run leading by nine to pull away for good.
Â
Clark led Louisville with 16 points, four made 3s and four assists. Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield finished with 15 points and six rebounds, and sophomore guard Tre White chipped in 12 points.
Â
The Cardinals outshot North Carolina from the field at 49.1%, including a 64% clip after halftime. Louisville made 6 of 8 3-pointers after the break and shot 44% from deep for the game.
Â
Davis paced the Tar Heels with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. Former Cardinal Jae'Lyn Withers had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Â
The Cardinals will stay on the road in North Carolina this week to face Wake Forest at 12 p.m. ET Saturday in Winston-Salem. The game will air on ESPNU.
Â
Â
The Cardinals (6-11, 1-5 ACC) trailed by 17 at halftime and as much as 20 in the first half, but cut their deficit to five with 12:40 remaining in the game.
Â
North Carolina answered with a 13-5 burst, and UofL didn't get closer than eight the rest of the way.
Â
"They are a team that could easily win a championship this year," Louisville head coach Kenny Payne said. "We knew that coming in. We knew we had to play lights-out to come in here and get a win. I thought we played hard, I thought we fought, but there are no good efforts and moral victories with this program that I'm at. I want to win games, and I want these guys that are in that jersey to know what it feels like to go into North Carolina and win a game."
Â
An early 11-0 run by the Tar Heels gave them a 15-4 lead to start the game at the 15:04 mark following three straight 3-pointers.
Â
Louisville committed nine turnovers in the first half while UNC shot 50% from the floor to build a 46-29 halftime advantage.
Â
The Cardinals caught fire offensively to open the second half, making nine of their first 10 shots and seven straight at one point.
Â
Redshirt sophomore guard/forward Mike James' 3-pointer trimmed North Carolina's lead to 55-50 with 12:40 left.
Â
On the next possession, UNC's RJ Davis was fouled on a long fadeaway 3 and made all three free throws. That sparked a 13-5 Carolina run that made it 68-55 at the 8:02 mark.
Â
Sophomore guard Skyy Clark's 3 with 6:28 to play again pulled UofL within 70-62, but that was the Cards' last threat. The Tar Heels (14-3, 6-0) went on a 9-0 run leading by nine to pull away for good.
Â
Clark led Louisville with 16 points, four made 3s and four assists. Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield finished with 15 points and six rebounds, and sophomore guard Tre White chipped in 12 points.
Â
The Cardinals outshot North Carolina from the field at 49.1%, including a 64% clip after halftime. Louisville made 6 of 8 3-pointers after the break and shot 44% from deep for the game.
Â
Davis paced the Tar Heels with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. Former Cardinal Jae'Lyn Withers had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Â
The Cardinals will stay on the road in North Carolina this week to face Wake Forest at 12 p.m. ET Saturday in Winston-Salem. The game will air on ESPNU.
Â
Players Mentioned
Men's Basketball Head Coach Pat Kelsey press conference, presented by @NeilHuffman
Wednesday, October 15
Louisville Men's Basketball Press Conference at ACC Tipoff - October 8, 2025
Wednesday, October 08
UofL Men's Basketball Head Coach Pat Kelsey on ACC Network at ACC Tipoff - October 8, 2025
Wednesday, October 08
UofL Men's Basketball Players J'Vonne Hadley and Ryan Conwell at ACC Tipoff - October 8, 2025
Wednesday, October 08