Stanford Cardinal Defeat Louisville Cardinals 80-76
Friday, January 2, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Maples Pavilion
Stanford Cardinal 80, Louisville Cardinals 76, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Louisville Cardinals vs Stanford Cardinal?
Stanford Cardinal beat Louisville Cardinals 80-76 at Maples Pavilion on January 2, 2026.
Who was favored in Louisville Cardinals vs Stanford Cardinal?
Louisville Cardinals were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -360 (about 78% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Stanford Cardinal edged out the Louisville Cardinals with a final score of 80-76 at Maples Pavilion. This victory not only marked a significant win for Stanford but also ended their recent struggle, as they had lost their previous game against Notre Dame. The Cardinal now hold a home record of 12-3, while Louisville's record stands at 11-3 following this defeat.
Stanford entered the game with a mixed recent form, having won 7 of their last 10 games but on a one-game losing streak. Their average scoring during this stretch was 75.4 points per game, while they allowed an average of 70.6 points. Their last five games saw them with a record of 4-1, averaging 73.4 points scored and 67.4 points allowed. The Cardinal's home record reflects a struggle, as they have only managed a 3-3 record at home, contrasting with a strong 4-0 record in away games.
On the other hand, Louisville came into the game riding a two-game winning streak, having won 8 of their last 10 contests. The Cardinals averaged a remarkable 88.3 points scored while allowing 68.5 points during this period. Their last five games showcased a record of 4-1, with an average of 86.4 points scored and 71.6 points allowed. Louisville's performance at home has been dominant, with a perfect 6-0 record, but they struggled to maintain consistency on the road, ending with a 2-2 record away from home.
The two teams had met previously twice in the 2025 season, with Stanford losing both encounters, including a narrow 73-75 defeat earlier in March. This history added an extra layer of significance to the matchup, as Stanford sought to turn the tide against their rivals.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the performance of both teams was crucial in this high-stakes game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Louisville favored by 7.5 points, with a total set at 157.5. The moneyline odds placed Stanford at +285 and Louisville at -360, indicating a strong belief in Louisville's chances prior to the game.
The conditions at Maples Pavilion were conducive for basketball, and the atmosphere was electric as fans turned out to support their home team. As the game progressed, viewers witnessed a series of scoring plays that highlighted the intensity of the competition. Notable moments included Jeremy Dent-Smith's crucial free throws that helped Stanford maintain their lead in the final moments of the game.
In the closing stages, Stanford managed to hold off a late surge from Louisville, with key free throws from Dent-Smith sealing the victory. The game concluded with Stanford's home win probability at 1.0, reflecting their successful performance against a challenging opponent. This win could serve as a turning point for Stanford as they look to build momentum for the remainder of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LOU -7.5 | 157.5 o -112 / u -108 | Louisville Cardinals -360 · Stanford Cardinal +285 |
Leaders
- PointsEbuka Okorie28Stanford Cardinal
- AssistsEbuka Okorie3Stanford Cardinal
- ReboundsChisom Okpara8Stanford Cardinal
- PointsRyan Conwell18Louisville Cardinals
- AssistsIsaac McKneely3Louisville Cardinals
- ReboundsSananda Fru8Louisville Cardinals
Recent form
Stanford Cardinal
Last 10: 7-3Streak L175.4 scored · 70.6 allowed per game3-3 at home
- L40-47vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishDec 31
- W88-80vs Cal State Northridge MatadorsDec 28
- W77-68at Colorado BuffaloesDec 21
- W76-60vs UT Arlington MavericksDec 18
- W86-82at San José State SpartansDec 14
- L74-75vs UNLV RebelsDec 7
- W94-72vs Portland PilotsDec 2
- W78-77at Saint Louis BillikensNov 29
- W72-68at Minnesota Golden GophersNov 28
- L69-77vs Seattle U RedhawksNov 22
Louisville Cardinals
Last 10: 8-2Streak W288.3 scored · 68.5 allowed per game2-2 away
- W90-70at California Golden BearsDec 31
- W94-54vs Montana GrizzliesDec 20
- L62-83at Tennessee VolunteersDec 17
- W99-73vs Memphis TigersDec 13
- W87-78vs Indiana HoosiersDec 6
- L80-89at Arkansas RazorbacksDec 4
- W104-47vs NJIT HighlandersNov 27
- W87-46vs Eastern Michigan EaglesNov 25
- W74-64at Cincinnati BearcatsNov 21
- W106-81vs Ohio BobcatsNov 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Louisville Cardinals | Stanford Cardinal |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-60 | 25-54 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 6-27 | 9-19 |
| Three-point % | 22 | 47 |
| Free throws | 18-21 | 21-31 |
| Free throw % | 86 | 68 |
| Rebounds | 39 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 18 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 17 |
| Assists | 11 | 6 |
| Steals | 4 | 7 |
| Blocks | 6 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 28 |
| Fouls | 23 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 9 |
| Lead changes | 18 | 18 |
| Time in front | 21 | 73 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half48-49AJ Rohosy makes 7-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half50-49Sananda Fru makes layup (Ryan Conwell assists)
- 2nd Half50-51Ebuka Okorie makes 8-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half51-51Isaac McKneely makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-51Isaac McKneely makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-53Ebuka Okorie makes 3-foot dunk (Aidan Cammann assists)
- 2nd Half52-54Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half52-56Chisom Okpara makes 3-foot jumper
- 2nd Half52-57Chisom Okpara makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half53-57Ryan Conwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-57Ryan Conwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-60Ryan Agarwal makes 27-foot three point jumper (Chisom Okpara assists)
- 2nd Half56-60Sananda Fru makes layup (Isaac McKneely assists)
- 2nd Half56-62Ebuka Okorie makes 15-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half57-62Isaac McKneely makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-62Isaac McKneely makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-62Isaac McKneely makes layup (Aly Khalifa assists)
- 2nd Half60-64Chisom Okpara makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half62-64Ryan Conwell makes layup (Aly Khalifa assists)
- 2nd Half62-65Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-65Khani Rooths makes 23-foot three point jumper (Isaac McKneely assists)
- 2nd Half65-68Ryan Agarwal makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ebuka Okorie assists)
- 2nd Half67-68Ryan Conwell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half67-69Chisom Okpara makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-70Chisom Okpara makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-71Jeremy Dent-Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-72Jeremy Dent-Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-72J'Vonne Hadley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-72J'Vonne Hadley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-72J'Vonne Hadley makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half71-73Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-74Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-76Jeremy Dent-Smith makes layup
- 2nd Half72-76Adrian Wooley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-76Isaac McKneely makes 20-foot jumper
- 2nd Half74-77Benny Gealer makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-78Benny Gealer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-78Sananda Fru makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half76-79Jeremy Dent-Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-80Jeremy Dent-Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Stanford Cardinal, below favours Louisville Cardinals.
Venue
- Maples PavilionStanford, CA
- Attendance4172
- OfficialsSean Hull, Michael Irving, Chase Shaw
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond