Louisville Cardinals Grind Out Victory Over Baylor Bears

Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. leads Louisville with 29 points in tough road win.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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In a game marked by physical play and foul trouble, the Louisville Cardinals defeated the Baylor Bears 82-71 on the road. Freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. led the way for Louisville with 29 points, while veteran forward J'Vonne Hadley added 20 points and 5 rebounds. The Cardinals overcame a sloppy first half, marked by 37 combined fouls, to pull away in the second half behind their stifling defense and efficient scoring.

Why it matters

This win is an important one for Louisville as they continue to build momentum heading into the postseason. Baylor was seen as a tough road test, and the Cardinals' ability to grind out a victory despite early struggles demonstrates their resilience and versatility. The performance of young star Mikel Brown Jr. is also a positive sign for Louisville's future.

The details

Louisville fell behind early as Baylor took advantage of 15 first-half free throw attempts, but the Cardinals regrouped before halftime to tie the game at 34. In the second half, Louisville's pressure defense and transition offense proved to be the difference, as they outscored Baylor 48-37 over the final 20 minutes. Mikel Brown Jr. was the catalyst, scoring 29 points on 8-of-14 shooting and adding 6 assists and 5 steals.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Louisville trailed 25-32 with 3:39 remaining in the first half, but rallied to tie the game at 34 by halftime.

The players

Mikel Brown Jr.

A freshman guard for the Louisville Cardinals who led the team with 29 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals in the victory.

J'Vonne Hadley

A veteran forward for the Louisville Cardinals who contributed 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in the win.

Pat Kelsey

The head coach of the Louisville Cardinals, who made some questionable in-game decisions but ultimately guided his team to the hard-fought victory.

Kasean Pryor

A Baylor player who was issued a technical foul early in the game for unsportsmanlike behavior, disrupting the flow of the contest.

Scott Drew

The head coach of the Baylor Bears, whose team put up a tough fight but ultimately fell short against the Cardinals.

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What they’re saying

“We must grind out these tough road wins if we want to make a deep postseason run. I'm proud of how our team responded in the second half.”

— Pat Kelsey, Head Coach, Louisville Cardinals

“Mikel really stepped up and made some big plays for us today. He's a special talent and the future is bright for this Louisville program.”

— J'Vonne Hadley, Forward, Louisville Cardinals

What’s next

Louisville will look to build on this road victory as they continue their conference schedule, while Baylor will aim to regroup and bounce back in their next game.

The takeaway

This hard-fought win showcases Louisville's resilience and ability to win tough road games against quality opponents, a valuable trait as they set their sights on postseason success.