No. 24 Louisville outlasts Notre Dame 76-65

Cardinals overcome cold start, pull away in second half

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:23pm

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Ryan Conwell scored 12 points, including seven during a critical 15-1 second-half surge, and Khani Rooths added 12 off the bench to help No. 24 Louisville defeat Notre Dame 76-65 on Wednesday night. The Cardinals overcame a slow start to lead 38-32 at halftime, then used a strong second-half performance to pull away from the stubborn Fighting Irish.

Why it matters

This victory keeps No. 24 Louisville in the hunt for a top spot in the ACC standings, as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. For Notre Dame, the loss extends their recent struggles, as they've now dropped 9 of their last 11 games.

The details

Louisville made 13 of 18 free throws, helping offset 41% shooting overall and just 7-of-31 from 3-point range. The Cardinals also dominated the paint, outscoring Notre Dame 40-22. Cole Certa led the Fighting Irish with 18 points, including five 3-pointers, but Notre Dame shot just 39% overall and 37% in the second half.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.

The players

Ryan Conwell

A Louisville player who scored 12 points, including 7 during a key 15-1 second-half run that helped the Cardinals pull away.

Khani Rooths

A Louisville player who came off the bench to score 12 points and contribute to the Cardinals' second-half surge.

Cole Certa

A Notre Dame player who scored a team-high 18 points, including 5 3-pointers, in the losing effort.

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What’s next

Louisville will visit Wake Forest on Saturday, while Notre Dame will host Florida State on the same day.

The takeaway

Despite a slow start, No. 24 Louisville was able to pull away from Notre Dame in the second half behind strong performances from Conwell and Rooths. This win keeps the Cardinals in contention in the ACC, while Notre Dame's recent struggles continue.