Louisville Beats UTC 84-70 in Season Opener

Louisville pulled away in the first half before UTC rallied with a 35-28 second-half margin at KFC Yum! Center.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a red-jerseyed basketball player driving toward the rim as a navy and white defender reaches in, under bright arena floodlights. — Louisville opened its season with an 84-70 win over UTC at KFC Yum! Center, holding off a second-half rally from the Mocs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Louisville defeated UTC 84-70 in the season opener at KFC Yum! Center. UTC trailed by 25 points before halftime but outscored Louisville 35-28 after the break.

Why it matters

The result opens the season for both programs, with UTC's second-half rally offering an early indication of its competitiveness. Louisville's win establishes its early-season record against a non-conference opponent.

Zach Bleshoy and Yonatan Levy led UTC with 14 points each, while Bleshoy shot 5 of 7 and grabbed seven rebounds. Lenny Anigbata added 12 points and Christian Matos scored 10 off the bench for UTC.

The players

Zach Bleshoy

A redshirt freshman for UTC who scored 14 points in his first Division I game after sitting out the past two seasons.

Yonatan Levy

A UTC player who scored 14 points, matching Bleshoy for the team lead in the season opener.

The details

UTC rallied after halftime, outscoring Louisville 35-28 in the second half despite the 25-point deficit. Bleshoy, a redshirt freshman playing his first Division I game after sitting out the past two seasons, scored 10 points after halftime.

November 2, 2026: UTC lost to Louisville 84-70 in the season opener.

Season Trajectory

The season opener sets the early tone for both programs, with UTC's second-half comeback suggesting it can compete with higher-profile opponents. Louisville's win positions it at the start of its schedule.

UTC's 14-point scorers Bleshoy and Levy are the team's leading options heading into the next stretch of its schedule. Fantasy managers tracking UTC's freshman lineup should note Bleshoy's seven-rebound, 5-of-7 shooting performance.

The takeaway

A strong second-half rally can change the outcome of a game that looks decided at halftime, as UTC showed in its opener. Early-season performances from newcomers like Bleshoy can give fans an early read on a roster.