Cards Fall On Senior Night; Set to Play NC State Tuesday in ACC Tournament

Mark BlankenbakerMarch 10, 2024

Louisville men’s basketball lost the battle on the boards Saturday, falling 67-61 to Boston College on Senior Night at the KFC Yum! Center.

The Cardinals (8-23, 3-17 ACC) were outrebounded 42-31, allowing 11 offensive rebounds and getting outscored 11-1 on second-chance points.

“I am disappointed in the fact that we had Senior Night and came out and played the way we played – lethargic and uninterested,” UofL head coach Kenny Payne said. “I am very disappointed in that. … We have to play with a different fire. We have to play with a different purpose. I don’t think we did that. At the end of that, to only lose the game by six, what could we have done better individually or collectively to make sure we walk out of here with a win for our teammates?”

Louisville scored the first four points of the game, but then allowed Boston College (17-14, 8-12) to go on a 17-1 run. The Eagles later had another 15-4 run that pushed their advantage to 14, and they led 41-31 at the break.

The Cardinals opened the second half with the first six points, followed by a 12-0 BC burst.

UofL got it back to seven with 2:37 left, but scored just two points the rest of the way.

Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield led Louisville with 14 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore guard Skyy Clark added 11 points and five assists.

Before the game, the Cardinals honored a trio of seniors in JJ Traynor, Zan Payne and Aidan McCool.

Claudell Harris Jr. paced Boston College with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Now the Cardinals will enter play in next week’s ACC Tournament as the No. 15 seed. They’ll face No. 10 seed NC State in the opening around at 4:30 p.m. ET Tuesday in Washington, D.C.