Louisville basketball ends another losing streak: Cards get 1st win at Virginia since 1990

Posted by Admin January 4, 2025 Basketball

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — One by one, Pat Kelsey is crossing Louisville basketball’s ACC losing streaks off the list.

A four-game skid at Florida State’s Donald L. Tucker Civic Center? Done. Five straight losses to North Carolina? Forget about ‘em.

Two big ones fell Saturday with the Cardinals’ 70-50 win over Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena — U of L’s first against the Cavaliers in 10 tries since Feb. 8, 2020, and its first on their home court since Feb. 17, 1990.

Aboubacar Traore was the spark plug in this one.

In his third game back, after missing 10 due to a broken left arm, the 6-foot-5 senior forward tied Reyne Smith with a team-high 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting to go along with eight rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.

Nine of those points came during the first half to help the Cards (10-5, 3-1 ACC) take a 32-27 lead into the locker room after starting 3 for 9 from 3. His six after the break helped them turn a four-point edge into an eight-point cushion — quieting the crowd at its loudest moments.

Smith accounted for five of Louisville’s seven 3s on a season-low 19 attempts. Three fell during the second half — helping Kelsey’s team outscore UVA (8-6, 1-2) 34-16 over the final 16:46.

Up next for Louisville: a 7 p.m. tipoff Tuesday against Clemson at the KFC Yum! Center.

This story will be updated.

Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.