Louisville Avoids Disaster, Defeats Eastern Kentucky in Non-Conference Finale
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hosting Eastern Kentucky for their final non-conference game of the season and last game of the calendar year, the Louisville men's basketball program was able to avoid a complete disaster, overcoming offensive clunkiness and withstanding several charges to hold on for a 78-76 victory on Saturday.
Following a three-pointer by EKU's Georgie Kimble III, The Cardinals (8-5, 1-1 ACC), who entered as 21.5-point favorites, trailed by a point with 1:22 to go. Missed threes by Reyne Smith and Chucky Hepburn nearly did them in, but there was one last chance.
The Colonels (6-7, 0-0 ASUN) missed a jumper with 12 seconds left, with J'Vonne Hadley getting the rebound. Smith tried to drive, but kicked the ball out to Noah Waterman at the left wing after stumbling. Waterman then drove up the baseline, and fought through two defenders to hit a go-ahead layup with 1.2 seconds left.
Louisville finishes their non-conference slate of games with a 7-4 mark against such competition. They also extend their active winning streak over the Eastern Kentucky to 16 straight, having not lost in the all-time series since 1963.
https://www.si.com/college/louisville/basketball/recap-2024-25-game-13-eastern-kentucky