LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hosting Eastern Kentucky for their final non-conference game of the season and last game of the calendar year, the Louisville men's basketball program was able to avoid a complete disaster, overcoming offensive clunkiness and withstanding several charges to hold on for a 78-76 victory on Saturday.

Noah Waterman's driving, twisting shot in the lane with 1.2 seconds left rescued Louisville from a home upset bid by Eastern Kentucky, escaping with a 78-76 home victory on Saturday.

Louisville Cardinals forward Aboubacar Traore (25) looks to pass around Spalding University's Caden Bradford (0) at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. / Matt Stone/Courier Journal/USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Louisville Cardinals basketball coach Pat Kelsey talks about the final eight seconds of the game versus Eastern Kentucky at the KFC Yum! Center.

Opening Statement “First of all, I’ve got my best friends in the world here who came to the game tonight, which was such a treat. I love you guys. I give Eastern Kentucky a lot of credit. They played a heck of a game.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville men's basketball program was able to avoid a complete disaster on Saturday, needing some last-second heroics to take down Eastern Kentucky 78-76 on Saturday. Noah Waterman hit the go-ahead layup with 1.