Louisville Freshman Mikel Brown Jr. Erupts for Historic Night in Rout of NC State

Brown's 45 points and 10 3-pointers tied single-game program records as the No. 23 Cardinals cruised past the Wolfpack.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 8:47pm

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In a dominant performance, Louisville freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. scored 45 points and hit 10 3-pointers to lead the No. 23 Cardinals to a 118-77 rout of NC State on Monday night. Brown's scoring outburst tied the school's single-game records set by Wes Unseld in 1967, while his 10 made 3-pointers matched the program's previous high set by Reyne Smith in 2025.

Why it matters

Brown's historic night comes just over a week after he struggled mightily in a loss to then-No. 4 Duke, prompting a conversation with coach Pat Kelsey about letting the game come to him. The freshman point guard's breakout performance shows his immense potential and ability to bounce back from adversity, providing a major boost for the Cardinals as they continue their ACC schedule.

The details

After assisting on Louisville's first basket, Brown took over the game, scoring 45 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including 10-of-15 from 3-point range. His scoring output and 3-point makes both tied single-game program records held by Wes Unseld (1967) and Reyne Smith (2025), respectively. The Cardinals led by double digits for most of the game, cruising to the 41-point victory over the Wolfpack.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • Brown's previous struggles came in a loss to Duke on January 26, 2026.

The players

Mikel Brown Jr.

A freshman point guard for the Louisville Cardinals who erupted for 45 points and 10 3-pointers in the team's blowout win over NC State, tying single-game program records.

Pat Kelsey

The head coach of the Louisville Cardinals who had a conversation with Brown after his struggles against Duke, encouraging him to let the game come to him.

Wes Unseld

A former Louisville player who held the school's single-game scoring record of 45 points, which Brown tied with his performance against NC State.

Reyne Smith

A former Louisville player who held the school's single-game record for 3-pointers made with 10, which Brown also tied in the win over NC State.

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What they’re saying

“Let the game come to you.”

— Pat Kelsey, Head Coach, Louisville Cardinals

What’s next

Louisville will next face Baylor in a neutral-site non-conference game on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at 4 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas.

The takeaway

Mikel Brown Jr.'s historic performance against NC State showcases his immense potential and ability to bounce back from adversity, providing a major boost for the Louisville Cardinals as they continue their ACC schedule. The freshman point guard's 45-point, 10-3PM outing tied single-game program records and demonstrates his growth under coach Pat Kelsey's guidance.