No. 24 Louisville Defeats Notre Dame with Bench Strength

Cardinals overcome slow start to win 76-65 at home

Feb. 5, 2026 at 8:15am

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The No. 24 Louisville Cardinals overcame a slow start and a key injury to starting guard J'Vonne Hadley, using a strong bench performance to defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 76-65 at home on Wednesday. Louisville trailed 10-2 early but a late first-half run and solid contributions from their reserves, including 12 points each from Sananda Fru and Khani Rooths, helped the Cardinals pull away for the victory.

Why it matters

This win helps Louisville maintain its position in the top 25 rankings and keeps them in the hunt for a high seed in the upcoming ACC tournament. For Notre Dame, the loss continues their struggles this season, as they've now dropped 8 of their last 9 games since losing star player Markus Burton to injury in early December.

The details

Louisville fell behind 10-2 to start the game but a late 8-0 run in the final minute of the first half gave them a 38-28 lead they would not relinquish. The Cardinals' bench outscored Notre Dame's 33-12, led by 12 points each from Fru and Rooths. Isaac McKneely had a team-high 13 points for Louisville, while Cole Certa paced Notre Dame with 18 points.

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

The players

J'Vonne Hadley

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

Sananda Fru

A Louisville player who came off the bench to score 12 points, grab 5 rebounds, and block 3 shots.

Khani Rooths

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

Isaac McKneely

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

Cole Certa

The leading scorer for Notre Dame with 18 points, going 5-for-14 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

Louisville's depth and bench production proved to be the difference in this game, as their reserves outscored Notre Dame's bench by a wide margin. This win keeps the Cardinals in the national rankings and in contention in the ACC, while Notre Dame's struggles continue as they try to overcome the loss of their star player.