In a thrilling showdown on Thursday night, No. 13 Louisville showcased their resilience by overcoming a daunting 15-point deficit in the second half to defeat Stanford 75-73. This remarkable victory allowed the Cardinals to advance to the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
Leading the charge for the Cardinals was Terrence Edwards, who delivered an impressive performance, scoring 25 points. Close behind him, Chucky Hepburn contributed significantly with 20 points, including the game-winning putback jumper as the buzzer sounded. Other notable contributors included Noah Waterman and James Scott, each adding 12 points to the scoreboard. With this victory, Louisville improved their record to 26-6, marking their 10th consecutive win.
Stanford, making their debut in the ACC Tournament, initially led the game with a halftime score of 33-30. They appeared poised to extend their lead in the second half, building a 52-37 advantage thanks to an 11-0 scoring run. However, a pivotal moment occurred when Maxime Raynaud picked up his fourth foul with just over 13 minutes remaining. This foul shifted the momentum in favor of Louisville, allowing them to rally back and eventually take the lead at 70-65 after Hepburn sank a three-pointer and assisted J'Vonne Hadley for a layup.
As the tension heightened, Raynaud later fouled out, putting Stanford in a precarious position. The Cardinal's Chisom Okpara managed to tie the game with a three-point play with just 32 seconds left on the clock. In the final moments, Edwards missed a crucial three-pointer, but the ball fortuitously bounced to Hepburn. He seized the opportunity, nailing a 15-footer to clinch the victory for Louisville.
Despite the victory, Louisville played without key player Reyne Smith, their third-leading scorer averaging 13.4 points per game, due to an ankle injury. His absence appeared to disrupt the team’s chemistry, especially during the first half. Nevertheless, the Cardinals managed to out-rebound Stanford 32-28, which proved crucial in their comeback effort.
With this win, Louisville is set to face the winner of the Clemson/SMU matchup in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Stanford, with a season record of 20-13, is likely to head to the NIT after a valiant effort in their first ACC Tournament appearance.
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