The Louisville men’s basketball team earned a spot in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship after a thrilling 79-70 overtime victory against West Virginia on Thanksgiving Thursday.
Coach Kelsey Praises Team’s Effort
Head coach Pat Kelsey lauded his team’s resilience, likening the intense matchup to classic Big East basketball battles. “It was a 45-minute rock fight,” Kelsey said. “I’m proud of our guys for having the wherewithal late in the game… When we lost that lead late in regulation, we fought back, got a bunch of stops in overtime, and found a way to come out with a win.”
Kelsey also highlighted Chucky Hepburn’s standout performance, calling it “one of the single most dominant performances on both ends of the floor by a point guard” he has ever witnessed.
Game Highlights
The contest featured six ties and seven lead changes, epitomizing a tightly contested battle.
- First Half: Louisville trailed by as many as 11 points late in the first half but rallied with a 7-0 run, fueled by a Hepburn 3-pointer, to close the gap to 28-24 at halftime.
- Second Half: The Cardinals opened the second half with a 10-3 run, narrowing the deficit to one point. Later, a 14-2 Louisville surge, including nine points from Hepburn, gave the Cardinals a 59-52 lead. West Virginia responded with an 8-0 run to reclaim the lead, forcing the game into overtime after a tied 62-62 regulation.
- Overtime: Reyne Smith’s 3-pointer set the tone for the extra period, and the Cardinals closed with a decisive 12-3 run, with eight points coming from the free throw line, to secure the victory.
Standout Performances
- Chucky Hepburn: Hepburn delivered a career-best 32 points, six steals, three rebounds, and two assists. He shot 8 of 12 from the field and 14 of 17 from the free throw line, becoming the only Louisville player since 2010-11 to record at least 32 points and six steals in a game.
- Reyne Smith: Smith added 15 points, including four 3-pointers, and played 37 minutes.
- Kasean Pryor: Pryor contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, and a season-high three blocks.
Looking Ahead
Louisville will face either No. 24/23 Arizona or Oklahoma in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship game on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. ET, broadcast on ESPN. The Cardinals aim to capitalize on their momentum and secure the tournament title.
