LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – This was Louisville’s “we’re back” moment. Back in the national rankings. Back in the national conversation. Back in front of a sellout crowd at home.

But if you’re Louisville, you can do all those things — and until you’ve beaten Kentucky, it doesn’t matter.

Now, it matters.

Louisville 95, Kentucky 88.

This was a night when the rivalry returned. It was the first meeting in six years where both teams were ranked. The largest crowd in the KFC Yum! Center in nine seasons — 22,586. Donovan Mitchell manned the left sideline. He was on the last Louisville team that beat a good Kentucky team.

We’re not going to talk about the seven of eight free throws Louisville missed to finish the game. That’s for another column.

This was Louisville’s night — its first win in the series since 2020. A national statement on ESPN that the Cardinals are ready for prime time. At least they were on this frigid night in November.

Louisville made threes (13-for-40). Kentucky was better around the basket (a 40–36 edge in the paint).

But Louisville had the better backcourt in the game, and perhaps staked a claim for one of the better backcourts in the nation.

Mikel Brown Jr. was the best player on the court. He had 21 first-half points before cramping up in the second. But he came through again when it mattered and finished with 29.

Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell was right there with him, matching Kentucky’s physicality and shot-making. He had 24.

But Kentucky had weapons too, even without starting forward Trent Noah, the “Mountain Mamba.” Picking up the slack was Denzel Aberdeen, a Florida transfer who’s played on a national championship stage and looked right at home under the lights. He finished with 26.

Then Collin Chandler entered the chat.

He hit three massive three-pointers in the game’s final 10 minutes — the last pulling Kentucky within four and signaling "game on" for the home stretch.

Louisville led 53–46 at halftime. It marked the third straight game with 50 first-half points — the first time that’s happened since 1974. But they’d need more.

Kentucky didn’t go quietly. After falling behind 78–58, the Wildcats launched a 12–3 run to close the gap.

Louisville missed five of six shots — then six of nine — and Kentucky kept charging.

Chandler buried back-to-back threes to cut the deficit from 17 to 11 with under 10 minutes left. A Malachi Moreno dunk with 4:53 remaining made it 87–81, prompting a Kelsey timeout.

Chandler struck again from deep at the 4-minute mark — 88–84.

When Adrian Wooley was tied up after an offensive rebound, Kentucky got the ball and trailed by just four with 3:35 to play. Media timeout.

Conwell fouled Jaland Lowe with 3:16 left, but Lowe missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Louisville ball. Brown took it at the top, drove straight to the rim, scored, and drew contact. Three-point play. Louisville’s lead back to seven — 91–84.

Aberdeen answered with a basket. Brown answered with two free throws. 93–86 Cards.

Kentucky missed a pair of threes. On the other end, Conwell muscled to the rim for two more — 95–86.

Aberdeen drove for another layup. Timeout Kentucky, down seven.

After the timeout, Kentucky defended well. Aberdeen guarded Brown. Conwell drove and kicked to Isaac McKneely for a missed three, but Sananda Fru, who was tremendous all night, grabbed the biggest rebound of the game — an offensive board and dish back to Conwell. Kentucky had to foul.

Conwell missed both free throws with 52 seconds left, but J’Vonne Hadley soared for the rebound. Louisville kept the ball, and Kentucky had to foul again with 44.2 seconds remaining.

Hadley missed two more. Kentucky still had a pulse.

But Lowe dribbled out of bounds under the basket with 36 seconds left.

Hadley went back to the line. Missed twice. Again.

Kentucky couldn’t convert. And Louisville ran out the clock.

Fru finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. McKneely, Wooley, and Hadley added nine points apiece. The Cardinals outscored Kentucky 19–10 off turnovers and dished out 20 assists.

More to come.

More Coverage:

CRAWFORD | Early or late, Louisville's Kelsey feels the gravity of the Kentucky rivalry

CRAWFORD | My Week 1 Associated Press men's college basketball Top 25 ballot

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