Louisville Pushes Texas, Falls on Go-Ahead Jumper in Empire Classic Opener

The Cardinals fall in heartbreaking fashion to the Longhorns in their return to the Garden.

NEW YORK - Playing in their first game away from the KFC Yum! Center this season, the Louisville men's basketball program nearly captured their first major victory under head coach Kenny Payne, but fell 81-80 to Texas in heartbreaking fashion Sunday in their first game of the Empire Classic.

Up by one point with 37.9 seconds to go, the Cardinals (2-2, 0-0 ACC) committed a brutal shot clock violation, handing the ball right back to the No. 19 Longhorns (4-0 0-0 Big 12) with 7.9 seconds left.

Max Abmas, Division I's active leading scorer, drove the ball from the top of the key with roughly three seconds left, pulling up from midrange at the right elbow with Skyy Clark draped all over him, and sunk the go-ahead basket with 0.4 seconds left.

Louisville entered the game as 17.5-point underdog, and had plenty of ups and downs over their first three games of the season and two exhibitions, but played arguably their best basketball since Payne took over.

In their 54th all-time appearance in Madison Square Garden, Louisville had their most efficient offensive showcase under Payne. While they were 43.4 percent from the field, that also came with an incredible 27-of-31 mark at the free throw line, while looking more decisive in there ball movement than at any point in the last year and a half (12 assists to 11 turnovers).

Defensively, while there were still multiple lapses sprinkled throughout the game, Louisville had their best defensive outing of the season by far. They held a Texas squad that had been shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 45.7 percent on three-point attempts to 46.3 percent and 2-of-17, respectively. However, they only forced five Longhorn turnovers, and allowed 48 points in the paint.

Louisville was led by a pair of 20-point performances from both Clark and Tre White. Clark also chipped in five rebounds and four assists, while White had seven boards. Brandon Huntley Hatfield had 11 points and a game-best nine rebounds, while Ty-Laur Johnson had 14 points - including 10 on free throws - and six assists.

Early on, it looked like Texas was about to run away with the game. Louisville made just four of their first 10 field goal attempts, while the Longhorns capitalized on poor defensive rotations to hit seven of their first ten, putting the Cardinals down nine roughly six-and-a-half minutes into the game.

But after that poor opening, Louisville's offensive execution improved greatly. They connected on eight of their next 18 field goal attempts in the first half, limited their turnovers, and showed tremendously hustle on the offensive boards with six in the first half.

However, their defensive execution still kept it a game with Texas. Even after the Longhorns' early scoring barrage, they still shot 19-of-33 (57.6 percent) in the first half and had 28 points in the paint. But even with that, plus some late lapses by the Cards in the form of easy steals and layups, Louisville still only trailed just 41-38 heading into halftime.

The opening segment of the second half was the complete opposite of the first half. Louisville was the one who hit three of their first four shot, while Texas was the one who missed their first five shots, putting the Cardinals up by four just over three minutes into the second half.

However, Louisville's shooting proceed to go ice cold, as they hit just two of their next 12 attempts, including at one point a stretch of seven consecutive misses. Although they were able to connect on six of their final nine shot, including two massive threes by Clark in the final two minutes.

What kept this such a back-and-forth affair in the second half was Louisville's defense, which featured a much higher effort level, and a near perfect mark at the free throw line. The Cardinals held the Longhorns to just 35.3 percent and 0-for-9 on threes in this half, while also going 17-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Next up, Louisville will face Indiana in the Empire Classic consolation game. Tip-off against the Hoosiers is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m. EST.

(Photo of Brandon Huntley-Hatfield: Vincent Carchietta - USA TODAY Sports)

You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:

Facebook - @LouisvilleReport
Twitter - @UofLReport
Instagram - @louisville_report

You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter