Arkansas Upsets Louisville, Handing Them First Loss of Season
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In a stunning upset on December 6, 2023, the 25th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the 6th-ranked Louisville Cardinals with a score of 89 to 80 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Trevon Brazile was the standout performer for Arkansas, scoring 21 points and leading a balanced scoring attack that featured five players in double figures.
Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas contributed 17 points each, while Malique Ewin added 12 points and Billy Richmond III chipped in 10. The Razorbacks executed their game plan effectively, making 27 of 35 free throws for a shooting percentage of 77%.
They also dominated the boards, outrebounding Louisville 46 to 36. The game began with Arkansas establishing a commanding lead, as Brazile scored 17 points in the first half, including 14 of Arkansas's first 23 points.
By halftime, the Razorbacks had built an 18-point lead, scoring 47 points, which was as much or more than Louisville had allowed in three of their previous seven games. Louisville struggled mightily in the first half, shooting only 33% from the field.
The Cardinals, however, mounted a second-half comeback, shooting 50% and trimming Arkansas's lead down to just four points with 2:27 remaining. Despite the rally, Arkansas responded with a critical alley-oop dunk from Brazile off a pass from Acuff that halted Louisville's momentum.
Mikel Brown Jr. led Louisville in scoring with 22 points but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 13 three-point attempts. Ryan Conwell, the team's leading scorer, added 15 points but shot only 25% from the field, going 4 of 16.
This loss marked the first defeat of the season for Louisville, who now holds a record of 7-1, while Arkansas improved to 6-2. Looking ahead, Arkansas will face Fresno State on December 9 in Little Rock, while Louisville prepares to host No. 22 Indiana on the same day.
According to CBS Sports, this victory significantly boosts Arkansas's profile in the rankings and may impact Louisville's standing as a top team in the nation.