CINCINNATI (Interstat) — In a hard-fought interstate battle, the Louisville Cardinals remained undefeated, using a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the Cincinnati Bearcats for a 74-64 victory Friday night before a crowd of 8,507 at Fifth Third Arena.

The Cardinals, who trailed by four points at halftime, outscored the Bearcats 46-32 after the break to secure their fifth consecutive win to open the season. Cincinnati suffered its first loss, falling to 4-1.

Louisville’s comeback was fueled by a potent offensive duo. Mikel Brown, a 6-foot-5 guard from Orlando, Florida, orchestrated the attack with 22 points and six assists, while Ryan Conwell, a 6-3 guard from Indianapolis, poured in a game-high 25 points.

The first half was a defensive struggle defined by runs. Cincinnati built an early lead, capitalizing on Louisville turnovers and strong interior play from 7-foot-2 center Moustapha Thiam of Dakar, Senegal, who finished with 10 points and three blocks. The Bearcats led 32-28 at intermission.

The momentum shifted decisively in the second half as Louisville’s offense found its rhythm. Brown and Conwell consistently broke down the Cincinnati defense, creating scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates. A key sequence saw the Cardinals clamp down defensively while reeling off a 10-2 run to take a lead they would not relinquish.

Sananda Fru, a 6-11 forward from Berlin, Germany, provided a crucial interior presence for Louisville, contributing 11 points and two blocks, including a key swat early in the second half that energized the visiting squad.

Cincinnati was led by Day Day Thomas, a 6-1 guard from Bishopville, South Carolina, who tallied 12 points and six assists. Sencire Harris added nine points for the Bearcats, but the team struggled to maintain its offensive efficiency against Louisville’s tightened defense in the final 20 minutes.

The game’s final score fell well under the pregame over/under line of 164.5. Louisville had been installed as an 8.5-point favorite and covered the spread with the 10-point victory.

Louisville’s next game is at home against Eastern Michigan on Monday. Cincinnati will look to rebound at home against NJIT, also on Monday.