Cards Fall to No. 25 Arkansas 89-80

Wednesday, December 3

Fayetteville, Ark.

7:15 p.m.

University of Louisville

7-1,0-0ACC

#25 Arkansas

6-2,0-0SEC

Louisville

Arkansas

December 03, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Pat Kelsey Press Conference

Razorbacks’ 18 offensive boards lead to Louisville set back

By: Lori Harmon

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In its first true road game of the year, the No. 6-ranked University of Louisville men's basketball team fell 89-80 to No. 25 Arkansas Wednesday in the ACC/SEC Challenge at Bud Walton Arena.

With its first loss of the season, Louisville drops to 7-1 while Arkansas moves to 6-2.

"Credit to Arkansas, they were the better team tonight," said UofL head coach Pat Kelsey. "It felt like they were the aggressor early, jumped on us. We fouled too much. They got a ton of offensive rebounds. The fouling part of it is disappointing. Offensive rebounding, we got 43% of their misses. That's just the physicality and toughness that they played with. That can't happen."

The Cardinals had four players in double figures, led by Mikel Brown Jr.'s 22 points behind 7-of-19 shooting and 6-of-10 from the free throw line. Ryan Conwell added 15 points including three 3-pointers. Sananda Fru went 7-of-9 from the field, tying his career-best 14 points and matched a season-high with eight rebounds while Isaac McKneely finished with 11 points, going 3-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Five Arkansas players finished in double figures as Trevon Brazile led the way with 21 points while Darius Acuff Jr. tallied 17 points and dished out 10 assists to help lead the Razorbacks.

The Razorbacks jumped to a 6-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game before Conwell connected on a 3-pointer to put the Cards on the board.

The teams traded baskets until the Razorbacks took an 11-8 lead into the first media timeout. After a Khani Rooths' layup pulled Louisville within one. Arkansas countered with a 12-4 run to take a 23-14 lead entering the 12-minute media break. Coming out of the timeout, Conwell answered with another three to make the score 23-17.

The Razorbacks extended their lead to as many as 19 points in the first half, finishing on a 16-7 run to take a 47-29 lead into halftime, marking only the second time this season that Louisville has trailed at the half.

In the first 20 minutes of play, Brazile led all scorers with 17 points while Sananda Fru paced the Cards in the first half with eight points and four rebounds.

In the first half, Louisville shot 33.3% (12-of-36) from the field and an uncharacteristic 15% (3-of-20) from 3-point range. The Razorbacks were 41.2% (14-of-34) from the field and 45.5% (5-of-11) from deep, earning 14 of their points behind 14-of-18 free throw shooting.

The Cardinals regrouped during the break and Conwell opened the second half scoring with his third 3-pointer of the game. Arkansas responded to take a 54-34 lead behind a 3-pointer by D.J. Wagner. The Cards began to claw back from the largest deficit they have faced this season as Brown sparked an 8-0 run which was capped by a three by J'Vonne Hadley to make the score 54-42.

Three minutes later, a layup by Brown opened 15-6 run, trimming the lead to five at 66-61 with 8:39 left to play.

The Razorbacks stretched their lead back to 10 and withstood a late surge by the Cardinals who pulled within five again behind a McKneely 3-pointer with 2:48 left to play, but Arkansas outscored Louisville 8-4 down the stretch and held on for the 89-80 win.

In the game, Louisville shot 41.1%, going 29-of-70 from the field including 8-of-37 from the arc for a season-low 21.6%. The Cards owned a 42-34 advantage in points in the paint and went 14-of-18 from the free throw line.

The Razorbacks shot 42% (28-of-67) in the contest and won the rebound battle 46-36 with 18 offensive boards and 27 second chance points. Arkansas went 27-of-35 from the charity stripe.

"We have a very quick turnaround," said Kelsey. "We have a very talented, well-coached Indiana team in two days. We have to get home and have two great days of preparation. Luckily we can get back out there quickly and get a chance to redeem ourselves, because we need to."

The Cardinals will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Indianapolis to face No. 22 Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as part of the CareSource Invitational Indianapolis – Supporting Mental Health.