Cardinals Come Up Short in Road Loss at Virginia

Wednesday, January 3

Charlottesville, VA

7 p.m.

University of Louisville

5-8,0-2ACC

Virginia

11-3,2-1ACC

Louisville

Virginia

January 03, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box VIDEO: Kenny Payne Press Conference

By: Zach Greenwell

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Cold outside shooting gave Louisville men's basketball an uphill climb in a 77-53 loss at Virginia on Wednesday.

Despite shooting 59% from inside the arc, the Cardinals (5-8, 0-2 ACC) went 6 of 25 from long range on a night with a short-handed roster that left them with just seven scholarship players.

"I want to be a team that attacks, and we knew that it wouldn't come off one pass and attack," UofL head coach Kenny Payne said. "We knew we would have to have multiple drives. We knew that we had to move the ball and play north-south. We sort of caught the ball and dribbled in a spot, and then decided to go where their pack line was. We should have had better ball movement. … Overall, you don't want to settle for jump shots against that team. They're too good and too disciplined defensively."

Louisville led 5-2 early before Virginia went on a 7-0 run and never trailed again.

The Cardinals cut a double-digit deficit to 26-20 after a basket by redshirt sophomore guard/forward Mike James at the 3:46 mark.

The Cavaliers responded with a 9-0 run, then knocked down a jumper at the buzzer for a 37-22 halftime advantage.

Louisville scored the first four points out of the break to pull back within 11, but Virginia (11-3, 2-1) eventually pushed its lead to 24 in the closing minutes.

The Cavaliers shot 52% overall from the field and were led by Isaac McKneely's 18 points.

Freshman guard/forward Curtis Williams led Louisville with 14 points. He went 4-for-10 from 3-point range, while the rest of the team was 2-for-15.

James also reached double figures with 11 points.

Louisville returns home to host Pitt at 12 p.m. ET Saturday at the KFC Yum! Center. The game will air on The CW.