Highlights, Photos and Notes: Louisville 104, SC State 45

The 2025-26 season for the Louisville men's basketball program couldn't have started much better, as they captured an emphatic 104-45 victory over South Carolina State in their first game of the new hoops year.

The Atlantic Coast Conference put together a highlight tape of the matchup, which you can see here:

Team Notes:

• KEY FIRST HALF RUN: The Cardinals made their first five shots of the game, putting together a 13-0 run in the first 4:02, which ended with a Bulldog free throw. After another Bulldog free throw with 14:46 remaining in the first half, the Cardinals went on a 9-0 run resulting in a 24-2 Cardinal lead. The Cardinals 44-point halftime lead is the largest in program history, surpassing the previous record of 42 points on March 13, 2014, against , where Louisville led 58-16 at halftime.
• KEY SECOND HALF RUN: The Cards started the half with a 17-2 run, creating a 59-point differential between Louisville and South Carolina State by the 13:04 mark.
• Louisville shot 33 of 62 (53.2%) from the field, 12 of 32 (37.5%) from deep and 26 for 33 (78.8%) from the free-throw line.
• This was the Cards first time scoring 100 points against an opponent since facing Bellarmine on Nov. 19, 2024.
• This game marked the Cardinals largest margin of victory (59) since defeating Morehead St 104-40 on Dec. 27, 2004.
• Tonight’s victory produced UofL’s first 50-point win since defeating Southern on Nov. 13, 2018.
• Louisville’s win marked the first time five Cardinals scored in double figures since Feb. 16, 2025, at Notre Dame
• The Cardinals defense allowed fewer than 20 pts in half (first half) for the first time since a 68-48 victory vs. Stanford (18 pts, first half) on March 8, 2025.

Player Notes:

• Khani Rooths logged a team-high 20 points in 21 minutes, marking his first 20-point game as a Cardinal as well as his first game leading the team in scoring. He added on seven rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. The forward had eight field goals on 12 attempts, one of which came from deep.
• Isaac McKneely tallied 17 points for the Cards, 15 of which came from beyond the arc. McKneely added in four rebounds and a steal in 22 minutes. McKneely recorded five of the team’s 12 total three-point field goals, shooting 45% on 12 attempts.
• J'Vonne Hadley scored 13 points, adding nine rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 21 minutes of action. Hadley’s 10+ point outing was his 27th in a UofL uniform, and his team-high nine rebounds was his 17th time leading the team.
• Ryan Conwell scored 12 points in his Cardinal debut, recording a team-high seven free throws. Conwell added three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Gallery: