Recap
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Louisville Cardinals' Paint Struggles as Virginia Cavaliers Shine Bright

First Half


The Louisville Cardinals faced off against the Virginia Cavaliers at the KFC Yum! Center, where the Cards fell short with a 70-79 scoreline. This result leaves Louisville with a 20-16 record, while Virginia improves to 16-20. The first half saw the Cavaliers take an early lead, scoring 33 points compared to Louisville's 28. Despite their efforts, the Cards struggled to find rhythm in their shooting game, achieving only a field goal percentage of 36 percent.


Jan 13, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA;  Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) shoots against Virginia Cavaliers guard Sam Lewis (5) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Virginia defeated Louisville 79-70. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Second Half


In the second half, both teams intensified their play. The Cards managed to increase their scoring output with an additional 42 points but were unable to close the gap as UVA surged ahead with another impressive display netting 46 points. A notable performance came from J'Vonne Hadley who contributed significantly on defense with three steals and added pressure on offense.


Key Performances


Isaac McKneely stood out for Ville by leading his team in scoring during this matchup and maintaining a perfect free throw percentage from his previous game stats. However, it was not enough against UVA's balanced attack which saw them dominate rebounds and capitalize on second-chance opportunities.


Jan 13, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA;  Virginia Cavaliers center Johann Gruenloh (17) shoots against Louisville Cardinals forward Sananda Fru (13) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

The Hoos showcased strong defensive prowess by blocking nine shots throughout the game while also converting efficiently from beyond-the-arc at a rate of 41 percent for three-pointers.


Post-game Analysis


Reflecting upon this encounter through post-game thoughts Louisville Cardinals fans might consider how improvements can be made particularly around shooting efficiency inside-the-paint where they converted just under half of those attempts into successful baskets (46 percent). Meanwhile analyzing further into Louisville Cardinals match rating reveals areas needing attention such as reducing turnovers which totaled eight during this contest compared against UVA’s thirteen giving some solace despite defeat here today!


Jan 13, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA;  Virginia Cavaliers center Johann Gruenloh (17) shoots against Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Looking ahead towards future challenges awaits another exciting clash when traveling next week up north facing Pittsburgh Panthers scheduled January seventeenth eight PM Eastern Time broadcast live via ESPN2 network held Petersen Events Center located within city limits there so mark calendars accordingly join us then support your favorite team once more! Share this article if you enjoyed reading about today's action-packed showdown between these two competitive squads!

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