Louisville men’s basketball hosts the Mercyhurst Lakers tonight at the KFC Yum! Center for the second of two exhibition matchups for the Cards this season, streaming on ACC Network Extra at 7 pm.
How did Louisville fare in their first exhibition?
The Cardinals enter tonight’s matchup coming off an 89-83 victory over Kansas in Lawrence on October 21, 2026. That loss marked Kansas’ first home exhibition defeat in 58 tries dating back to the 1993 season. Louisville outscored the Jayhawks 53-46 in the second half to secure the win.
Can the frontcourt establish paint dominance against Mercyhurst?
Big man Flory Bidunga logged 28 minutes against his former team last week, producing five points, three rebounds, and four fouls. Alongside him, 7’2” freshman Obinna Ekezie Jr. recorded 16 points—shooting 4-for-6 from 3-point range—and blocked five shots. Tonight, Mercyhurst’s tallest player stands at 6’9”, presenting an entirely different physical challenge.
Meanwhile, 7’5” transfer center Gabe Dynes sat out the Kansas game with an undisclosed return timetable. Forward Alvaro Folgueiras started at power forward against the Jayhawks, finishing with eight points, five rebounds, and four assists while going 3-for-4 from the field.
Will the backcourt duo maintain their momentum?
Guards Jackson Shelstad and Chucky Trimble set the tone in Lawrence. Shelstad scored 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting with three steals, while Trimble added 12 points—including clutch free throws down the stretch—along with seven rebounds and four assists.
Who claims the starting small forward spot?
Adrian Wooley earned the start at small forward against Kansas, going 2-for-7 from the field with two early second-half 3-pointers, three rebounds, and three assists over 20 minutes. Arkansas transfer Karter Knox contributed seven points off the bench in 12 minutes, and Dayton transfer De’Shayne Montgomery added 10 points in 22 minutes.
Tonight’s game serves as the final evaluation before Louisville opens its regular season next Monday against Chattanooga.
