SMU Triumphs Over Louisville
In a thrilling matchup on Tuesday night, Southern Methodist University (SMU) triumphed over the No. 21 ranked Louisville Cardinals with a score of 95-85, effectively halting Louisville’s five-game winning streak. Jaron Pierre Jr. was a standout for SMU, contributing 25 points, while Boopie Miller added 23 points and dished out nine assists, playing a pivotal role in the Mustangs’ victory.
Key Moments of the Game
With just over six minutes remaining, Miller sank a floater to give SMU the lead for good at 78-76, initiating a streak of six consecutive successful field goals for the Mustangs. Among those was a pair of three-pointers from Corey Washington, who ended the night with 18 points. The excitement reached a peak when Miller executed an alley-oop assist to Pierre for a dunk, increasing the lead to eight points with 1:49 left on the clock, much to the delight of the raucous Moody Coliseum crowd.
Significance of the Victory
This victory marks the Mustangs’ second win this season at home against a ranked ACC team, previously defeating then-No. 12 North Carolina 97-83 on January 3. Under the guidance of second-year coach Andy Enfield, these successes may be crucial for SMU as they aim for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2017.
Louisville’s Performance
For Louisville, standout freshman Mikel Brown Jr. shone brightly, scoring 29 points, a feat he has accomplished in two consecutive contests following a record-breaking performance where he scored 45 points against North Carolina State on February 9. Along with Brown’s efforts, J’Vonne Hadley contributed 14 points and nine rebounds, while Ryan Conwell chipped in with 12 points.
Competitive Nature of the Game
The game featured an impressive 17 lead changes and 16 ties, showcasing the competitive nature of both teams, who are recognized as the top-scoring squads in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Louisville had taken a narrow lead at 74-73 with a reverse layup from Brown eight minutes before the final buzzer. However, the momentum shifted, and SMU maintained control, leading 52-49 at halftime.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Louisville will host Georgia Tech on Saturday, while SMU will face Boston College the same day, both teams hungry for victories as the season progresses.
