Louisville Cardinals Survive Late Scare Against Wake Forest

UofL basketball writer breaks down the team's 88-80 victory over the Demon Deacons.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 3:31pm

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The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team held on for an 88-80 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, despite blowing a 15-point second-half lead. Louisville's defense clamped down in the final minutes, holding Wake Forest without a field goal over the last 5 minutes and 19 seconds of regulation.

Why it matters

This win keeps Louisville in contention for a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, as they continue their strong season in the highly competitive ACC conference. The ability to withstand a late comeback attempt shows the team's resilience and experience.

The details

After jumping out to a big lead, Louisville saw Wake Forest battle back and tie the game late. However, the Cardinals' defense tightened up in the final minutes, forcing the Demon Deacons to miss their final seven field goal attempts. This allowed Louisville to regain control and secure the important conference victory.

  • The game was played on February 7, 2026.

The players

Brooks Holton

A sportswriter covering the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team for the Courier-Journal.

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What they’re saying

“After blowing a 15-point second-half lead, Louisville held Wake Forest without a field goal over the final 5 minutes and 19 seconds of regulation.”

— Brooks Holton, UofL basketball writer (Courier-Journal)

What’s next

Louisville will look to build on this victory as they continue their ACC schedule, with key matchups against Duke and North Carolina coming up in the next few weeks.

The takeaway

This win demonstrates Louisville's ability to withstand adversity and make crucial defensive stops when needed, a trait that will serve them well as they push for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.