LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the first time in nearly five years, the Battle of the Bluegrass belongs to the Cardinals.

No. 12 Louisville beat No. 9 Kentucky 96-88 Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center as freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. scored 29 points, with 20 of them in the first half.

He showcased the skills that made him a five-star point guard recruit, leading the Cardinals (3-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) to their first victory over the Wildcats (2-0, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) since Dec. 26, 2020. His 29 points on 8-of-16 shooting and 10-of-11 from the foul line were the most by a Louisville freshman since Edgar Sosa scored 31 in a 2007 NCAA round-of-32 game against Texas A&M.

"The biggest thing for me is coming out with the win, and that's whatever I've got to do to get that win,

See Full Page