In an exciting college basketball showdown, Terrence Edwards Jr. delivered an outstanding performance that secured a solid 88-78 victory for Louisville against Miami. Edwards, showcasing his versatile gameplay, scored 27 points, distributed 10 assists, and managed to keep turnovers to a mere two, proving instrumental in Louisville's dominant win over the struggling Miami team on Saturday.
Louisville's efficiency was evident as they finished shooting 49.3% from the field, hitting 33 of their 67 attempts. Their precision from the free throw line was spectacular as well, scoring 11 out of 12 for an impressive 91.7% success rate. Key contributions came from Reyne Smith, who added 26 points, and J'Vonne Hadley, who chipped in with 12 points, further amplifying the Cardinals' offensive prowess.
Despite Miami's struggles this season, they had significant contributions from reserve A.J. Staton-McCray, who scored 22 points. Matthew Cleveland also scored impressively with 21 points, marking his sixth consecutive game scoring over 20 points. Complementing their efforts, Lynn Kidd and Divine Ugochukwu each added 10 points to the scoreboard.
During the first half, Louisville asserted their authority with a 54.1% shooting accuracy. Edwards was a linchpin during this period, contributing 15 points by successfully landing 6 of his 9 shots. However, the Cardinals faced an early setback when guard Chucky Hepburn sustained a groin injury during their prior game against Boston College.
Noah Waterman stepped up as Hepburn's replacement, delivering an electrifying dunk and following up with a 3-pointer, pushing the Cardinals to a 19-14 lead with just under 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Louisville held a firm 46-38 lead at halftime.
Post-break, Miami mounted a spirited comeback, narrowing the gap to 52-49 after a swift 14-6 run early in the second half. But the Cardinals maintained their composure and did not allow Miami to get any closer, showcasing their resilience and control until the final buzzer.
Looking ahead, Miami will host Syracuse on Tuesday, hoping to rebound from their setbacks, while Louisville is set to travel and face N.C. State on Wednesday as they aim to continue their impressive form in the competitive ACC.