Louisville Rallies Past Notre Dame in Home Victory

No. 24 Cardinals overcome early deficit with strong bench play

Feb. 5, 2026 at 2:31am

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The Louisville Cardinals overcame an early 10-2 deficit and a key injury to pull away from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a 76-65 home victory on Wednesday. A late first-half run and solid contributions from the bench, including a double-double from Khani Rooths, helped Louisville secure the win despite a strong effort from Notre Dame's Cole Certa.

Why it matters

This win keeps Louisville in the hunt for a top-25 ranking and NCAA Tournament berth, while Notre Dame continues to struggle in conference play following an injury to a key player earlier in the season.

The details

Louisville fell behind 10-2 to start the game and lost starting guard J'vonne Hadley to an apparent back injury after just three minutes. But the Cardinals rallied with an 8-0 run late in the first half to take a 38-28 lead into halftime. Notre Dame pulled within three points early in the second half, but Louisville pulled away down the stretch. Isaac McKneely led the Cardinals with 13 points, while Sananda Fru, Ryan Conwell, and Khani Rooths also scored in double figures off the bench.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.
  • Louisville trailed 10-2 to open the game.
  • Louisville went on an 8-0 run late in the first half to take a 38-28 lead into halftime.
  • Notre Dame pulled within three points early in the second half, but Louisville pulled away late.

The players

J'vonne Hadley

A Louisville starting guard who left the game early due to an apparent back injury.

Isaac McKneely

The leading scorer for Louisville with 13 points, including 4-for-8 shooting from 3-point range.

Sananda Fru

A Louisville player who scored 12 points and added 5 rebounds and 3 blocked shots off the bench.

Khani Rooths

A Louisville player who recorded a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Cole Certa

The leading scorer for Notre Dame with 18 points, including 5-for-14 shooting from 3-point range.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game showcased Louisville's depth and resilience, as they were able to overcome an early deficit and a key injury to secure an important home win over a conference rival. The Cardinals' strong bench play was a key factor in the victory.