Louisville dominated early, building a commanding 23-point lead behind two devastating scoring runs in the first half. The Cardinals went on a 13-2 run to jump ahead 24-11, then struck again with another 13-2 burst to push the lead to 54-35. South Florida fought back hard in the second half, cutting deep into the deficit with a 9-2 run that made it 72-61, but it wasn't quite enough. The final minute was pure chaos. J'Vonne Hadley and Ryan Conwell converted crucial free throws down the stretch to keep Louisville ahead, but South Florida kept scratching back. With just five seconds left, Joseph Pinion drained a three-pointer to make it 83-79—one last gasp that fell short. Louisville held on for the 83-79 First Round victory, as the No. 6 seed survived a furious late rally from the No. 11 seed.