No. 21 Louisville Cardinals Extend Winning Streak to 10 with Victory Over Wake Forest

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The No. 21 Louisville Cardinals extended their winning streak to 10 games Tuesday night, defeating Wake Forest 72-59 in a dominant performance at home. The Cardinals improved to 16-5 overall and 9-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, solidifying their position as one of the hottest teams in college basketball.

Louisville came out strong in the first half, building a 15-point lead by the eight-minute mark and heading into halftime with a commanding 45-21 advantage. The Cardinals’ offense was fueled by efficient shooting and aggressive play, particularly at the free-throw line, where they made 15 of 21 attempts. Wake Forest, by contrast, struggled to draw fouls, attempting only eight free throws throughout the game.

Terrence Edwards led the Cardinals with 18 points, while teammates Reyne Smith and Chucky Hepburn contributed 16 and 14 points, respectively. Despite a slower offensive pace in the second half, Louisville maintained a steady double-digit lead, thwarting Wake Forest’s attempts to close the gap.

“Our guys came out with great energy and focus,” said Louisville head coach Kenny Payne. “We executed our game plan well, especially in the first half, and that set the tone for the rest of the game.”

The Demon Deacons, now 12-9 overall and 4-6 in ACC play, were unable to overcome their early deficit. Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes acknowledged the challenge of facing a surging Louisville team. “They’re playing with a lot of confidence right now, and we didn’t match their intensity early on,” Forbes said.

Louisville’s next challenge comes Saturday at Georgia Tech, with tip-off scheduled for 3:45 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on the CW Network. The Cardinals will look to continue their momentum as they push for a top seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament.