Highlights and Notes: Louisville 73, NC State 68

The highlights, team and player notes from Louisville's win at NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. - Thanks to a pair of clutch three-pointers in the final two minutes at NC State, Louisville was able to come out on top with a win in their first game against ACC competition.

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

Team Notes:

  • Louisville is now 14-10 all-time against NC State with its third straight win over the Wolfpack.
  • The Cardinals have won their conference opener in 12 of the last 14 seasons and nine of the last 10.
    • UofL has won its first conference road game in 12 of the last 15 seasons.
  • Louisville had its top three-point shooting day of the season, knocking down a season-best 11 shots from outside.
    • The 11 makes are the most since hitting 14 against Wake Forest on Feb. 5, 2020.
    • The Cardinals hit seven threes in the first half on Saturday, their most in a single half since also making seven in the first half against Syracuse on Feb. 19, 2020.
  • The Cardinals also had their highest free throw percentage of the season, making 12-of-15 for 80 percent.
  • Louisville held NC State to just 40 percent (24-for-60) shooting, the fifth UofL opponent to shoot 40 percent or lower through eight games.
  • The Cardinals dominated on the glass, finishing plus-16 (46-30) in rebounding.
    • UofL is 5-0 this season when out-rebounding the opposition.
  • Louisville grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, its fifth consecutive game with at least 10 on the offensive glass.
  • Louisville's bench outscored NC State's 28-0 in the victory.
    • The Cardinals are averaging 28.0 points per game off the bench.
  • The Cardinals had 14 assists in the win, tied for the second-most in a game this season.
  • Louisville had five players finish with double-digit points for the first time this season.
    • Matt Cross and El Ellis each finished in double figures coming off the bench, making it eight times this season a player has scored 10 or more points off the bench.

Player Notes:

  • Malik Williams finished with a team-leading 14 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
    • It was the seventh double-double of Williams' career and his second in the last three games.
    • Williams has at least 10 rebounds in five of eight games this season.
    • Williams is averaging 11.2 points and 10.6 rebounds over the last five games.
  • Matt Cross scored 13 points off the bench, including the game-winning three-pointer.
    • Cross had scored 13 points over the previous four games combined entering Saturday.
    • Cross grabbed a season-high seven rebounds and added a season-best two blocks.
  • Noah Locke was in double figures for the sixth time in eight games with 12 points on four made three-pointers.
    • Locke has made four three-pointers in three games this season and three or more in five of eight games.
  • Dre Davis continued his strong play with 11 points and seven rebounds.
    • Davis has scored in double figures in four of the last five games and is averaging 12.4 points per game over that stretch.
    • Five of his seven rebounds came on the offensive end.
  • EL Ellis followed up his career-high performance at Michigan State with 11 more points on Saturday.
    • Ellis has scored 29 points in his last 26 minutes on the court (18 in the final seven minutes at Michigan State, 11 in 19 minutes at NC State).
  • Jarrod West dished out five assists for the third time this season.

(Photo of Louisville Players via University of Louisville Athletics)

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Matthew McGavic
MATTHEW MCGAVIC

McGavic is a 2016 Sport Administration graduate of the University of Louisville, and a native of the Derby City. He has been covering the Cardinals in various capacities since 2017, with a brief stop in Atlanta, Ga. on the Georgia Tech beat. He is also a co-host of the 'From The Pink Seats' podcast on the State of Louisville network. Video gamer, bourbon drinker and dog lover. Find him on Twitter at @Matt_McGavic