NKyTribune staff
LOUISVILLE — Jordan Nwora scored a game-high 28 points as Louisville rallied for a 75-65 win over Bellarmine in an exhibition game Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center.
Dwayne Sutton added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Louisville, which held Bellarmine without a field goal during the final 4:33 of the contest. The Cardinals used a 9-1 run to end the game and survived the upset attempt from the Knights, one of the top teams at the NCAA Division II level.
Louisville’s Dwayne Sutton drives past Bellarmine defender Ben Weyer for a basket in the second half on Tuesday night. The Cardinals held off the Knights, 75-65. (Louisville photo)
Bellarmine is ranked No. 3 nationally in the NABC Division II preseason poll. The Knights are also favored to capture the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship.
Samuell Williamson, the lone freshman in the Louisville starting lineup, ended with 17 points and nine rebounds. The McDonald’s All-American was Louisville’s highest-ranked recruit in the 2019 signing class.
Darius Perry was the fourth Cardinal in double figures, adding 10 points. Louisville is ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll.
Louisville won the battle on the glass by a 40-26 margin over the smaller Knights. The Cardinals grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 17 second-chance points. Louisville had double-digit offensive boards in 18 games last season.
Louisville and Bellarmine have now met 10 times in exhibition contests, including each of the last six seasons, with the Cardinals winning all 10. The Cardinals are 22-0 in all contests against the Knights (12-0 in regular season).
Louisville has won 37 straight exhibition games, a span stretching the last 18 years.
(Information compiled from Louisville sports information and staff reports)
