Jaron Pierre Jr. and Boopie Miller exploded for 48 points, igniting a furious rally to snatch a crucial victory from No. 21 Louisville.
DALLAS - Moody Coliseum felt like March in mid-February. SMU delivered one of its biggest wins of the season Tuesday night, knocking off No. 21 Louisville 95-85 in a high-octane ACC showdown that kept NCAA Tournament hopes very much alive in Dallas.
The Mustangs (18-8, 7-6 ACC) snapped the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak in front of a raucous home crowd that sensed the moment from start to finish.
Jaron Pierre Jr. led the charge with 25 points, attacking off the dribble and knocking down key shots when SMU needed them most.
Boopie Miller wasn’t far behind, pouring in 23 points while dishing out nine assists in one of his most complete performances of the season.
Corey Washington added 18 points, including two massive 3-pointers during a decisive late run.
The game was exactly what you’d expect between two of the ACC’s most explosive offenses, a back-and-forth thriller featuring 17 lead changes and 16 ties.
After Louisville grabbed a 74-73 edge with eight minutes to play on a Mikel Brown Jr. acrobatic finish, SMU responded with poise.
Miller’s floater in the lane with 6:19 remaining gave the Mustangs the lead for good at 78-76, igniting a stretch where SMU connected on six straight field goals. Washington’s pair of threes widened the gap, and Moody Coliseum grew louder with every possession.
The exclamation point came with 1:49 left. Miller lofted a perfect alley-oop to Pierre, who hammered home the dunk to push the lead to 91-83 and send the Moody crowd into a frenzy.
Louisville (19-6, 8-5 ACC) got 29 points from freshman standout Mikel Brown Jr., who continues to put up eye-popping numbers after a recent 45-point outing against NC State.
J’Vonne Hadley chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds, and Ryan Conwell added 12. But the Cardinals couldn’t slow SMU’s offensive rhythm late.
The Mustangs led 52-49 at halftime and never lost confidence in a game that felt like a postseason audition. The win marked SMU’s second home victory over a ranked ACC opponent this season, following a January triumph over then-No. 12 North Carolina.
With Boston College up next in Dallas, SMU suddenly finds itself squarely in the NCAA Tournament conversation ... and Moody Coliseum is becoming a problem for ranked teams.