Louisville's reserves exploded for 47 points, igniting a second-half comeback and crushing SMU's hopes in an 88-74 victory.
The No. 20 Louisville Cardinals found their rhythm when it mattered most on Saturday at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, riding a dominant bench performance to an 88-74 comeback win over the SMU Mustangs.
The victory lifted Louisville to 15-6 overall and 5-4 in ACC play, snapping back emphatically after a tough midweek loss.
The Mustangs came out firing, knocking down four of their first five 3-point attempts and building a quick double-digit lead.
Behind efficient ball movement and sharp shooting, SMU carried a 47-44 edge into the locker room, having shot nearly 60 percent before the break. Louisville, meanwhile, struggled early but quietly stabilized late in the half to keep the game within reach.
Everything flipped after halftime.
Louisville took its first lead on a transition layup by Kobe Rodgers with just over 14 minutes remaining. SMU briefly nudged back in front, but the Cardinals responded with a decisive 10-0 run that shifted control permanently.
Aly Khalifa played a key role in that stretch, scoring five of his eight points to spark the surge.
The story of the game was Louisville’s bench, led by freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. Brown poured in 20 points off the bench, a dramatic turnaround after a rough shooting night earlier in the week.
He finished 7-of-14 from the field, drilled three 3-pointers, and added three rebounds and four assists.
Isaac McKneely added 14 points, hitting four triples, while Khani Rooths and Ryan Conwell chipped in 12 apiece. J’Vonne Hadley rounded out the balanced scoring with 10 points.
Louisville shot 52 percent in the second half and 49 percent overall, steadily stretching the lead as SMU’s offense cooled.
For SMU, Boopie Miller continued his impressive season, scoring 20 points for his 28th straight game in double figures.
The Mustangs entered the contest leading the ACC in scoring, but Louisville’s defensive pressure held them to just 37 percent shooting after halftime.
Louisville’s reserves outscored SMU’s bench 47-5, a staggering margin that underscored the Cardinals’ depth and resilience. The performance marked a strong response following Monday’s lopsided loss at Duke.
SMU will look to rebound at home Tuesday when it hosts the NC State Wolfpack, while Louisville carries momentum into the heart of ACC play with confidence restored.