Kansas Tops Louisville in Exhibition Game Behind Darryn Peterson’s Strong First Half

Louisville, Ky. — The 19th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks defeated No. 11 Louisville 90-82 in an NCAA exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Much of the spotlight was on guard Darryn Peterson, whose standout first half helped set the tone for the victory.

Peterson scored 24 of his game-high 26 points in the first half, leading the Jayhawks to a significant 46-30 lead at halftime. Kansas coach Bill Self praised Peterson’s performance, stating, “He played about a perfect first half offensively.” However, Peterson faced cramps afterward and was less active in the second half. Despite his absence, Kansas maintained their lead with contributions from other players.

Redshirt freshman Bryson Tiller shone in his debut, scoring 12 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and blocking four shots. His strong play came at a crucial time when starter Flory Bidunga was plagued with foul trouble, limited to just 23 minutes of play and 14 points.

Despite Bidunga’s early foul issues, the Jayhawks showcased depth and team effort, with Tre White adding 14 points and Elmarko Jackson and Melvin Council Jr. each contributing 11 points. The game, however, was marred by fouls, combining for a total of 58 fouls and resulting in 29 free throws.

Self pointed out that while Kansas’ shooting from beyond the arc was poor – with other players shooting only 2-for-11 – the team still managed to keep the Cardinals at bay. “The best thing about tonight is we won the game with (Peterson) on the bench in the second half,” Self noted.

Losing their early lead, the Cardinals struggled to capitalize on several chances. Despite scoring by their star freshman, Mikel Brown Jr., who finished with 10 points on a challenging shooting night, they could not keep pace. The Jayhawks limited Louisville’s open looks, contributing to a rough outing for the Cardinals.

Kansas will continue its exhibition schedule on Tuesday night against Fort Hays State, expecting to build on the lessons learned from this matchup against Louisville.