The best performance of the Kenny Payne era to date was still not quite enough for the Louisville men’s basketball team to spring a monumental upset.
The Cardinals fought valiantly before ultimately falling on a last-second shot by Texas star Max Abmas in the semifinals of the Empire Classic Sunday evening inside Madison Square Garden. Final score: No. 19 Texas 81, Louisville 80.
So it goes.
Tre White and Skyy Clark led the way for the Cards with 20 points apiece, while Ty-Laur Johnson came off the bench to chip in 14. An inspired Brandon Huntley-Hatfield also battled against foul trouble to turn in an 11-point, nine rebound performance before fouling out on an extremely questionable call with 2:49 to play.