Louisville Cardinals Triumph Over Virginia Tech Hokies
Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2:15 PM ET · KFC Yum! Center
Louisville Cardinals 85, Virginia Tech Hokies 71, 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 Virginia Tech Hokies vs Louisville Cardinals?
Louisville Cardinals beat Virginia Tech Hokies 85-71 at KFC Yum! Center on January 24, 2026.
Who was favored in Virginia Tech Hokies vs Louisville Cardinals?
Louisville Cardinals were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1350 (about 93% implied). The favorite won.
The Louisville Cardinals secured a convincing victory against the Virginia Tech Hokies, finishing the game with a score of 85-71. This matchup showcased the Cardinals' ability to dominate at home, particularly at the KFC Yum! Center, where they have a solid record of 14-5 this season.
In recent form, the Cardinals have shown a mixed performance with a record of 6-4 in their last ten games, but they are currently on a one-game winning streak. They averaged 82.6 points scored while allowing 72.2 points per game during this stretch. Their last five games reflect a slight dip in scoring, with an average of 78.8 points, but they managed to maintain a competitive edge.
On the other hand, the Hokies have been performing well, boasting a record of 7-3 in their last ten games and entering the matchup on a two-game winning streak. They averaged 82.0 points scored and allowed 74.5 points during this period. Their last five games have seen them average 77.4 points, indicating a strong offensive presence.
When considering home and away performances, the Cardinals have a home record of 4-2 in their last six games, while the Hokies have struggled on the road with a 1-2 away record in their last three games. This disparity in performance likely contributed to the Cardinals' advantage in this fixture.
In terms of previous meetings, the Cardinals and Hokies faced off once prior in the 2025 season, where Louisville emerged victorious with a score of 71-66. This history might have provided the Cardinals with additional confidence heading into the game.
Injuries were not reported in the block, so both teams appeared to be at full strength for this matchup, allowing for a competitive game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Cardinals favored with a spread of -14.5 and a total set at 160.5, indicating expectations of a high-scoring game. The moneyline odds were -1350 for the Cardinals and +800 for the Hokies, further emphasizing the Cardinals' favored status.
Conditions during the game were not detailed, but the atmosphere at the KFC Yum! Center is typically electric, especially for home games, which can play a significant role in team performance.
Fans watching the game were treated to notable scoring plays, including a series of key shots in the second half that helped solidify Louisville's lead. Ben Hammond contributed significantly for Virginia Tech, making multiple free throws and a three-point jumper, but it was not enough to close the gap. The Cardinals capitalized on their opportunities, with Sananda Fru's alley-oop dunk and J'Vonne Hadley's three-pointer helping to extend their lead late in the game.
Overall, this fixture highlighted the Cardinals' strengths at home and their ability to control the game against a competitive Hokies team. The final score of 85-71 reflects Louisville's dominance and sets the stage for their upcoming matchups.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LOU -14.5 | 160.5 o -115 / u -105 | Virginia Tech Hokies +800 · Louisville Cardinals -1350 |
Leaders
- PointsMikel Brown Jr.20Louisville Cardinals
- AssistsMikel Brown Jr.6Louisville Cardinals
- ReboundsSananda Fru10Louisville Cardinals
- PointsJailen Bedford24Virginia Tech Hokies
- AssistsBen Hammond5Virginia Tech Hokies
- ReboundsTobi Lawal9Virginia Tech Hokies
Recent form
Louisville Cardinals
Last 10: 6-4Streak W182.6 scored · 72.2 allowed per game4-2 at home
- W100-59at Pittsburgh PanthersJan 18
- L70-79vs Virginia CavaliersJan 14
- W75-62vs Boston College EaglesJan 10
- L73-84vs Duke Blue DevilsJan 7
- L76-80at Stanford CardinalJan 3
- 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
Virginia Tech Hokies
Last 10: 7-3Streak W282 scored · 74.5 allowed per game1-2 away
- W76-74at Syracuse OrangeJan 22
- W89-76vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishJan 17
- L76-77at SMU MustangsJan 15
- W78-75vs California Golden BearsJan 10
- L68-69vs Stanford CardinalJan 8
- L78-81at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsJan 3
- W95-85vs Virginia CavaliersDec 31
- W82-81vs Elon PhoenixDec 20
- W82-53vs Maryland Eastern Shore HawksDec 14
- W96-74vs Western Carolina CatamountsDec 12
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 | Virginia Tech Hokies | Louisville Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-62 | 31-66 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 47 |
| Three-pointers | 16-30 | 13-33 |
| Three-point % | 53 | 39 |
| Free throws | 5-8 | 10-13 |
| Free throw % | 63 | 77 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 44 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 29 |
| Assists | 16 | 17 |
| Steals | 5 | 8 |
| Blocks | 7 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 14 | 36 |
| Fouls | 18 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 20 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 3 | 92 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half27-42Jailen Bedford makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ben Hammond assists)
- 2nd Half27-44J'Vonne Hadley makes layup (Mikel Brown Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half29-44Antonio Dorn makes layup (Ben Hammond assists)
- 2nd Half29-47Isaac McKneely makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half29-49Isaac McKneely makes layup (Aly Khalifa assists)
- 2nd Half32-49Amani Hansberry makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ben Hammond assists)
- 2nd Half35-49Jaden Schutt makes 23-foot three point jumper (Amani Hansberry assists)
- 2nd Half35-51J'Vonne Hadley makes driving layup
- 2nd Half35-53Kobe Rodgers makes layup
- 2nd Half37-53Amani Hansberry makes driving layup
- 2nd Half37-56Mikel Brown Jr. makes 26-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half40-56Ben Hammond makes 25-foot three point jumper (Neoklis Avdalas assists)
- 2nd Half40-59Aly Khalifa makes 24-foot three point jumper (Isaac McKneely assists)
- 2nd Half42-59Jailen Bedford makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half45-59Jaden Schutt makes 29-foot three point jumper (Neoklis Avdalas assists)
- 2nd Half45-61Mikel Brown Jr. makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half45-62Mikel Brown Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half48-62Jailen Bedford makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ben Hammond assists)
- 2nd Half48-63J'Vonne Hadley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-64J'Vonne Hadley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-64Tobi Lawal makes 5-foot jumper (Ben Hammond assists)
- 2nd Half53-64Amani Hansberry makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jailen Bedford assists)
- 2nd Half56-64Amani Hansberry makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jailen Bedford assists)
- 2nd Half56-66Sananda Fru makes layup (Mikel Brown Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half56-67Sananda Fru makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half56-69Sananda Fru makes layup
- 2nd Half59-69Jailen Bedford makes 28-foot three point jumper (Tobi Lawal assists)
- 2nd Half59-72Mikel Brown Jr. makes 26-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half59-75Ryan Conwell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mikel Brown Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half59-76Ryan Conwell makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half62-76Ben Hammond makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jailen Bedford assists)
- 2nd Half62-79Ryan Conwell makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half64-79Ben Hammond makes 10-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half67-79Ben Hammond makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jaden Schutt assists)
- 2nd Half67-80Mikel Brown Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-80Ben Hammond makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-80Ben Hammond makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-82Sananda Fru makes 4-foot alley oop dunk (Mikel Brown Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half69-85J'Vonne Hadley makes 23-foot three point jumper (Sananda Fru assists)
- 2nd Half71-85Christian Gurdak makes 10-foot jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Louisville Cardinals, below favours Virginia Tech Hokies.
Venue
- KFC Yum! CenterLouisville, KY
- Attendance14907
- OfficialsTony Henderson, Jemel Spearman, Trey Styons
Elsewhere
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- 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