Chucky Hepburn scored 26 points as host Louisville defeated North Carolina 83-70 in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Wednesday night.
The host Cardinals (9-5, 2-1 ACC) found themselves in a dogfight with the Tar Heels (8-6, 1-1).
Louisville led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but North Carolina continued to fight back, cutting the deficit to 5 points with just over 5 minutes remaining.
However, the Cardinals were able to hold off the Tar Heels and secure the 83-70 victory.
Hepburn was the star of the show, scoring 26 points on 10-17 shooting from the field, including 4-8 from three-point range.
He was joined in double figures by several of his teammates, including JaeLyn Withers, who added 14 points and 7 rebounds.
The win was a big one for Louisville, who improved to 2-1 in conference play and 9-5 overall.
North Carolina, on the other hand, fell to 1-1 in the ACC and 8-6 overall.
The Tar Heels were led by Caleb Love, who scored 22 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Cardinals.
The two teams will meet again later this season, but for now, Louisville can celebrate a hard-fought victory over a tough conference opponent.
The Cardinals will look to build on this momentum as they continue through their conference schedule, while North Carolina will look to regroup and get back on track.