CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A thrilling buzzer-beater by Chucky Hepburn propelled No. 13 Louisville to a narrow victory over Stanford, 75-73, allowing them to advance to the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Despite trailing by 15 points in the second half, the Cardinals (26-6) secured their tenth consecutive win on Thursday night.
Terrence Edwards shone with 25 points, while Hepburn added 20. Contributions also came from Noah Waterman and James Scott, who each scored 12. On the other side, Stanford (20-13), appearing in their first ACC Tournament, saw Oziyah Sellers score 22 points and Maxime Raynaud contribute 17 points.
The first half concluded with Stanford ahead 33-30. They seemed poised for victory after an 11-0 run that widened their lead to 52-37 in the second half. However, the tide turned when Raynaud accumulated his fourth foul with over 13 minutes remaining. Seizing the opportunity, Louisville clawed back, going on a run that put them ahead 70-65 with just three minutes on the clock, thanks to a Hepburn three-pointer and an assist to J’Vonne Hadley for a layup. Raynaud’s subsequent foul-out allowed Stanford to tie the game through Chisom Okpara’s three-point play with 32 seconds to go.
After Edwards missed a three-point shot, chaos ensued under the basket. The rebound fortuitously landed with Hepburn, who calmly scored a 15-footer at the buzzer to clinch the victory.
**Takeaways**
Stanford faced a crucial setback when Raynaud collected his fourth foul, allowing Louisville to seize control. For Louisville, the absence of guard Reyne Smith due to an ankle injury affected the team’s dynamics, especially evident in the first half when they struggled to find rhythm.
**Key Moment**
The most pivotal moment came with Hepburn’s buzzer-beating shot that sealed the win.
**Key Stats**
Louisville held an edge on the boards, outrebounding Stanford 32-28.
**Up Next**
Louisville will compete against the winner of the Clemson/SMU matchup in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Stanford is likely bound for the NIT.
