CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Closing out a thrilling game, Chucky Hepburn’s buzzer-beater sealed the deal for No. 13 Louisville as they overturned a 15-point deficit in the second half to triumph over Stanford 75-73 on Thursday night. This victory propels them into the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
Terrence Edwards led the Cardinals with an impressive 25 points, supported by Hepburn who contributed 20 points. Contributions also came from Noah Waterman and James Scott, each adding 12 points. Louisville, having now secured 10 consecutive wins, boasts a strong season record of 26-6.
On the opponent’s side, Stanford was led by Oziyah Sellers, who scored 22 points, and Maxime Raynaud, who added 17. This matchup marked Stanford’s debut in the ACC Tournament, finishing their season with a 20-13 record. Despite holding a halftime lead of 33-30, Stanford seemed set to dominate further after an 11-0 run. They extended their lead to 52-37 in the second half.
However, the tide turned when Raynaud incurred his fourth foul with 13 and a half minutes on the clock. Taking advantage of this critical turn, Louisville began their comeback, eventually leading 70-65 with just three minutes remaining after Hepburn made a pivotal 3-pointer and assisted J’Vonne Hadley on a layup. Raynaud’s departure due to fouling out was significant, although Stanford managed to draw level with Chisom Okpara’s three-point play with just 32 seconds to go.
In a dramatic finale, Edwards missed a 3-point attempt but as chaos ensued around the rebound, Hepburn collected the loose ball and landed a decisive 15-foot jumper as time expired, clinching the victory for Louisville.
**Takeaways**
For Stanford, the early foul trouble faced by Raynaud was a crucial moment that shifted the game’s momentum favorably for Louisville. As for the Cardinals, playing without their key guard Reyne Smith, who averages 13.4 points per game and was sidelined with an ankle injury, seemed to initially disrupt their chemistry, particularly during the first half.
**Key Moment**
Without a doubt, the highlight of the game was Hepburn’s clutch putback at the buzzer, sealing the win for Louisville.
**Key Stat**
Louisville showed their prowess on the boards by outrebounding Stanford 32-28, which proved essential in their comeback victory.
**Up Next**
Louisville will now prepare to face No. 10 Clemson in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Stanford is likely to continue its postseason in the NIT.
