Creighton Dominates Louisville With 89-75 NCAA Tournament Win

In an electrifying NCAA tournament first-round matchup held on March 20, 2025, No. 9 Creighton triumphed over No. 8 Louisville with a decisive score of 89-75, effectively advancing in the South region of the tournament. The Blue Jays built a solid lead with a score of 49-34 at halftime, showcasing their offensive prowess and strong team play.

As the game progressed toward its climax, Louisville, spurred on by their passionate fans, managed to narrow the gap to 12 points with less than five minutes left on the clock. However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey received a technical foul at the 4:41 mark. Kelsey was visibly frustrated, arguing that Terrence Edwards Jr. had been fouled while attempting a three-pointer. His protests fell on deaf ears, leading to a series of events that would further solidify Creighton's lead.

The situation escalated during the ensuing stoppage of play when an incensed Louisville fan threw a full water bottle onto the court, further interrupting the flow of the game. The incident led to an extended delay as officials cleaned up the mess, which allowed the Blue Jays to capitalize on the emotions brewing in the arena. Creighton converted the two resulting free throws and scored on their next possession, stretching the lead back to 16 points.

Leading the charge for Creighton, Steven Ashworth delivered a stellar performance, racking up 22 points and establishing himself as a crucial player in this high-stakes game. Jamiya Neal also made headlines, scoring a career-high 29 points while grabbing 11 rebounds, which powered Creighton’s dominant performance. Remarkably, before this game, Neal had only scored more than 20 points on four occasions throughout the entire season, underscoring the significance of his contributions in this match.

Looking ahead, Creighton is set to face No. 1 seed Auburn in the second round of the tournament on March 22, 2025, a formidable challenge against the Tigers, who advanced after a decisive win against No. 16 Alabama State earlier in the day.

Analyzing the success of the Louisville Cardinals, who ended the season with an impressive 27-7 record, they finished in second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with an 18-2 record, trailing only behind Duke. Despite this success, Louisville’s loss in the NCAA tournament has been a disappointment for many fans. Their hopes had been buoyed by their strong performance throughout the season, highlighted by a close defeat at the hands of Duke in the ACC tournament title game.

Interestingly, after Selection Sunday, many analysts believed that Louisville was one of the most under-seeded teams in the tournament. Their placement as an eighth seed was perceived as a slight, considering their dominant performance in the ACC during a year that was arguably one of the league's weakest in recent history. Despite playing close to home in Lexington, Kentucky, Louisville's momentum was extinguished in the first half as Creighton took control of the game.

The disappointment was palpable among the fans, as evidenced by a statistic that revealed over 56% of Yahoo Bracket Mayhem users had picked Louisville to defeat Creighton in the tournament. This substantial backing reflected the confidence in their season and momentum, adding to the stakes of the match.

Ultimately, March Madness continues to deliver exhilarating moments, but for the Cardinals and their loyal supporters, this defeat marks a sobering end to a promising season.