Crawford Leads Louisville to 76-65 Victory Over Notre Dame
The University of Louisville Cardinals secured a 76-65 victory over Notre Dame in a hard-fought basketball game. Despite a tough performance, the Cardinals managed to hold off a determined Irish squad.
Crawford Leads Louisville to Victory Over Notre Dame
Louisville struggled with its three-point shooting, hitting only 22 percent from beyond the arc. The game featured a mixture of flat play and moments of intensity, allowing Notre Dame to remain competitive despite their low performance. This matchup will be remembered not for pure statistics but for the impactful return of Kasean Pryor.
Kasean Pryor’s Comeback
Pryor returned to the lineup after missing three games. His performance included ten points and five rebounds in just fifteen minutes of play. He acted as a spark for the team, diving for loose balls and ending a five-minute scoring drought with a key basket.
Coach Pat Kelsey praised Pryor’s tenacity. “He played with that reckless abandon that I love to see out of him,” Kelsey noted. Pryor’s return was timely, especially after teammate J’Vonne Hadley was limited to just three minutes due to an injury sustained during practice.
Strong Performance by Khani Rooths
In addition to Pryor’s contributions, sophomore Khani Rooths showcased his skills with a double-double, scoring twelve points and grabbing twelve rebounds. Together, they helped Louisville dominate the painted area, outscoring Notre Dame 40-22 under the basket.
Notre Dame’s Struggles
Though Notre Dame’s Cole Certa shone with eighteen points, hitting five three-pointers, the team could not capitalize on this offensive effort. Overall, the Irish shot 40 percent from downtown but could not match the depth of Louisville’s bench, which outscored Notre Dame’s 33-14.
- Louisville’s statistics:
- Total Points: 76
- Key Players: Kasean Pryor (10 pts, 5 rebs), Khani Rooths (12 pts, 12 rebs)
- Bench Points: 33
- Notre Dame’s statistics:
- Total Points: 65
- Key Players: Cole Certa (18 pts), Isaac McKneely (13 pts)
- Three-Pointers: 11 made on 40% shooting
Next Steps for Louisville
With this victory, Louisville improved its overall record to 16-6 and stands at 6-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Cardinals will aim for their first three-game winning streak of the season when they face Wake Forest this Saturday. While the match may not have been visually stunning, the Cardinals demonstrated grit, making it a crucial win as they build momentum heading into February.
