Tennessee Volunteers Defeat Louisville Cardinals 83-62
Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 7:00 PM ET · Food City Center
Tennessee Volunteers 83, Louisville Cardinals 62, 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 Tennessee Volunteers?
Tennessee Volunteers beat Louisville Cardinals 83-62 at Food City Center on December 16, 2025.
Who was favored in Louisville Cardinals vs Tennessee Volunteers?
Tennessee Volunteers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -192 (about 66% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Tennessee Volunteers triumphed over the Louisville Cardinals with a final score of 83-62 at the Food City Center. This victory marked a significant moment for the Volunteers, who had been struggling with a three-game losing streak prior to this game. The win not only broke that streak but also showcased Tennessee's offensive capabilities, as they averaged 80.9 points per game over their last ten outings, despite recent challenges.
Tennessee entered the game with a home record of 8-3, having gone 7-3 in their last ten games. However, they faced difficulties in their recent performances, losing to teams like the Illinois Fighting Illini, Syracuse Orange, and Kansas Jayhawks. Their last five games reflected a record of 2-3, with an average of 71.8 points scored and 70.2 points allowed. The Volunteers had a strong home record of 6-2 but had struggled on the road, going 1-1.
Conversely, the Louisville Cardinals came into the game with a solid away record of 9-2 and were riding a two-game winning streak. They had performed exceptionally well in their last ten games, boasting a record of 9-1 and an impressive scoring average of 94.3 points while allowing 68.1 points. Their recent form included a notable victory against the Memphis Tigers, where they scored 99 points. However, they had also faced a setback against the Arkansas Razorbacks, losing 80-89.
In their previous meeting earlier in the season, Tennessee had defeated Louisville 77-55, giving the Volunteers a 1-0 record against the Cardinals for the 2025 season. This history added a layer of intrigue to the matchup, as both teams aimed to assert dominance in their rivalry.
The injury report indicated that both teams were relatively healthy, allowing them to field their strongest lineups. This factor likely contributed to the competitive nature of the game, as both teams sought to capitalize on their strengths.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Tennessee favored by 4.5 points, with a total set at 156.5. The odds reflected the expectations for a high-scoring game, given both teams' offensive capabilities. Tennessee's moneyline was set at -192, while Louisville's was at +160, indicating a strong belief in the Volunteers' ability to secure the win.
Conditions on the day of the game were favorable, with the Food City Center providing a vibrant atmosphere for the home crowd. Fans were treated to a display of skill and determination from both teams, but it was Tennessee that ultimately took control. The Volunteers' ability to execute on offense and tighten their defense was evident throughout the game.
Key moments in the second half included a series of scoring plays that highlighted Tennessee's dominance. Felix Okpara made a notable dunk, further extending their lead, while Ryan Conwell and Ja'Kobi Gillespie contributed crucial free throws to maintain the momentum. Louisville struggled to keep pace, with the Volunteers pulling away decisively in the latter stages of the game.
Overall, this victory not only provided a much-needed boost for Tennessee but also showcased their potential as they look to build on this performance moving forward. The Volunteers will aim to leverage this win as they continue their season, while Louisville will need to regroup and address their recent inconsistencies.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | TENN -4.5 | 156.5 o -110 / u -110 | Louisville Cardinals +160 · Tennessee Volunteers -192 |
Leaders
- PointsJa'Kobi Gillespie23Tennessee Volunteers
- AssistsJa'Kobi Gillespie5Tennessee Volunteers
- ReboundsJaylen Carey10Tennessee Volunteers
- PointsRyan Conwell22Louisville Cardinals
- AssistsSananda Fru3Louisville Cardinals
- ReboundsRyan Conwell5Louisville Cardinals
Recent form
Tennessee Volunteers
Last 10: 7-3Streak L380.9 scored · 66 allowed per game6-2 at home
- L62-75vs Illinois Fighting IlliniDec 7
- L60-62at Syracuse OrangeDec 3
- L76-81vs Kansas JayhawksNov 27
- W76-73at Houston CougarsNov 25
- W85-60vs Rutgers Scarlet KnightsNov 24
- W89-60vs Tennessee State TigersNov 21
- W91-66vs Rice OwlsNov 18
- W99-66vs North Florida OspreysNov 13
- W95-56vs Northern Kentucky NorseNov 8
- W76-61vs Mercer BearsNov 4
Louisville Cardinals
Last 10: 9-1Streak W294.3 scored · 68.1 allowed per game1-1 away
- 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
- W96-88vs Kentucky WildcatsNov 12
- W106-70vs Jackson State TigersNov 7
- W104-45vs South Carolina State BulldogsNov 4
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 |
| Florida | 27-8 | - | 16-2 |
| Arkansas | 28-9 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Alabama | 25-10 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Vanderbilt | 27-9 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Tennessee | 25-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Texas A&M | 22-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Georgia | 22-11 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Kentucky | 22-14 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Missouri | 20-13 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Texas | 21-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Auburn | 22-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma | 21-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Mississippi State | 13-19 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Ole Miss | 15-20 | 12 | 4-14 |
| South Carolina | 13-19 | 12 | 4-14 |
| LSU | 15-17 | 13 | 3-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Louisville Cardinals | Tennessee Volunteers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-58 | 29-53 |
| Field goal % | 38 | 55 |
| Three-pointers | 7-34 | 7-18 |
| Three-point % | 21 | 39 |
| Free throws | 11-18 | 18-28 |
| Free throw % | 61 | 64 |
| Rebounds | 30 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 25 |
| Assists | 8 | 19 |
| Steals | 5 | 8 |
| Blocks | 1 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 21 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 16 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 42 |
| Fouls | 20 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 25 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 2 | 94 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half36-44Ryan Conwell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half36-47Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes 28-foot three point jumper (Nate Ament assists)
- 2nd Half38-47Adrian Wooley makes layup (Sananda Fru assists)
- 2nd Half38-50Nate Ament makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ja'Kobi Gillespie assists)
- 2nd Half38-53Ethan Burg makes 24-foot three point jumper (Nate Ament assists)
- 2nd Half39-53Khani Rooths makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-54Jaylen Carey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-56Bishop Boswell makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half41-56Adrian Wooley makes layup
- 2nd Half44-56Ryan Conwell makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half44-59Nate Ament makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Carey assists)
- 2nd Half44-60Jaylen Carey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-60Ryan Conwell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half46-63Amari Evans makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ja'Kobi Gillespie assists)
- 2nd Half46-64Amaree Abram makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-65Amaree Abram makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-65Isaac McKneely makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half48-67Amari Evans makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half48-68Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-69Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-69J'Vonne Hadley makes layup
- 2nd Half50-70Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-71Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-71J'Vonne Hadley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-72Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-73Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-75Felix Okpara makes 13-foot jumper (Ja'Kobi Gillespie assists)
- 2nd Half53-75J'Vonne Hadley makes driving layup
- 2nd Half53-76Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-77Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-77Isaac McKneely makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ryan Conwell assists)
- 2nd Half56-79Felix Okpara makes 3-foot dunk (Bishop Boswell assists)
- 2nd Half56-81Felix Okpara makes 5-foot dunk (Jaylen Carey assists)
- 2nd Half57-81Ryan Conwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-81Ryan Conwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-82Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-83Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-83Ryan Conwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-83Ryan Conwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-83Vangelis Zougris makes 5-foot dunk
Win probability
Above the line favours Tennessee Volunteers, below favours Louisville Cardinals.
Venue
- Food City CenterKnoxville, TN
- Attendance21678
- OfficialsDoug Shows, William Covington, Pat Adams
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