Louisville Men’s Basketball Dominates South Carolina State 101-42 in Season Opener
The University of Louisville men’s basketball team launched its 2025-26 season with a resounding 101-42 victory over South Carolina State yesterday evening at the KFC Yum! Center.
The 59-point win marks the sixth-largest margin of victory in program history and the largest since 2014. Louisville (1-0) showcased impressive efficiency, shooting 53.2% from the field and assisting on 23 of their 33 made baskets. The Cardinals also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 36 points off 25 forced errors, and controlled the boards with a 47-33 rebounding advantage. This dominant performance signals a potential shift in momentum for the program under second-year head coach Pat Kelsey.
Five Louisville players scored in double figures, led by Khani Rooths with a career-high 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Isaac McKneely contributed 17 points with five three-pointers, while J’Vonne Hadley added 13 points and a team-best nine rebounds. The Cardinals’ strong start – hitting their first five shots and building a 22-2 lead early in the first half – set the tone for the game. For more on college basketball standings, visit NCAA.com.
South Carolina State struggled offensively, shooting just 22.8% from the floor and 2-of-19 from three-point range. Louisville’s decisive win comes after two exhibition games against Kansas and Bucknell, where the team focused on refining its defensive strategies, as detailed in a recent USA Today Sports report.
Louisville will continue its four-game home stand on Thursday, November 6th, with a 7:00 p.m. EST tip-off against Jackson State.
