Terrence Edwards Jr. delivered a standout performance on Saturday, leading the No. 18 Louisville Cardinals (18-6, 11-2 ACC) to an 88-78 road victory over the struggling Miami Hurricanes (5-18, 1-11 ACC). Edwards finished with 27 points, 10 assists, and just two turnovers, orchestrating Louisville’s offense with efficiency and control.
Louisville maintained command for most of the game, shooting 49.3% (33-for-67) from the field and displaying impressive accuracy from the free-throw line at 91.7% (11-for-12). The Cardinals took a decisive 46-38 lead into halftime after a strong first half, in which they shot 54.1% (20-for-37), with Edwards leading the charge, scoring 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting.
Miami made a push early in the second half, cutting the deficit to 52-49 with a 14-6 run, but Louisville quickly regained control and never allowed the Hurricanes to get any closer.
Reyne Smith provided a strong scoring boost for the Cardinals, finishing with 26 points, while J’Vonne Hadley added 12. Louisville’s depth played a crucial role, particularly in the absence of Chucky Hepburn, who missed the game due to a groin injury sustained early in Wednesday’s road win at Boston College. Noah Waterman stepped up in Hepburn’s place, making an immediate impact by throwing down a dunk and following up with a three-pointer, helping the Cardinals establish an early 19-14 advantage midway through the first half.
Despite their struggles this season, the Hurricanes received a strong performance from reserve A.J. Staton-McCray, who scored 22 points. Matthew Cleveland added 21 points, continuing his impressive scoring streak with his sixth consecutive 20-plus point game. Lynn Kidd and Divine Ugochukwu each contributed 10 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Louisville’s efficiency.
Miami will look to snap their losing streak when they host Syracuse on Tuesday, while Louisville aims to keep its momentum going with a trip to N.C. State on Wednesday.
