Louisville scores first point vs. UCLA before the game tips off due to pregame tech

Cardinals get early edge as Bruins are whistled for technical foul

Premature celebration comes back to bite UCLA

Louisville, Ky. - The Louisville Cardinals earned an early 1-0 advantage over the UCLA Bruins on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a pregame technical foul called against UCLA. The incident occurred just moments before the scheduled tip-off, as the Bruins were celebrating their pregame introductions. Louisville head coach Kenny Payne called a timeout, and the officials assessed UCLA with a technical foul for excessive celebration. Louisville's El Ellis calmly stepped to the free-throw line and sank the technical free throw, giving the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead. The Bruins were visibly frustrated by the call, but they quickly regained their composure and the game proceeded as scheduled. The pregame technical foul is a rare occurrence, but it can have a significant impact on the outcome of a game. In this case, it gave Louisville an early momentum boost and helped them set the tone for the contest. The Cardinals went on to win the game 86-72, but the pregame technical foul was a key moment that helped them get off to a good start. It's a reminder that even the smallest details can make a big difference in a basketball game.