Louisville basketball advances to ACC Tournament quarterfinals after defeating SMU Louisville Cardinals basketball secured a hard-fought 62-58 victory over 11th-seeded Southern Methodist University (SMU) in the ACC Tournament Round of 16 on Wednesday, advancing to the quarterfinals. The sixth-seeded Cardinals, led by head coach Pat Kelsey, overcame a deficit to claim their first win in 17 attempts when trailing by five minutes in the second half under Kelsey’s tenure. The game, played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, sets up a rematch against third-seeded Miami in the semifinals, with the matchup scheduled for approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. The win marks a pivotal moment for Louisville, which had struggled to close out games in recent seasons. The Cardinals’ ability to rally in the final minutes was highlighted by a standout performance from forward Vangelis Zougris, who provided a crucial spark in the second half. Zougris, making only his third start of the season, scored six consecutive points to give Louisville a 52-50 lead with 5:38 remaining. The Greek forward’s efforts set the stage for a dramatic finish, as Louisville’s resilience led to a decisive 3-pointer and layup from Ryan Conwell in the final minute, sealing the victory. Conwell finished with a team-high 16 points, though Zougris’ impact was undeniable, as his performance helped position Louisville for a deep run in the tournament. Louisville’s defensive strategy was equally critical in securing the win. The Cardinals held SMU to just 26 points in the first half, a season-low, despite the Mustangs’ strong shooting percentage of 29.6% (8-for-27) and 14.3% (2-for-14) from beyond the arc.#louisville_cardinals #smu_mustangs #pat_kelsey #vangelis_zougris #ryan_conwell
Louisville Cardinals vs SMU Mustangs: ACC Tournament Game Recap The Louisville Cardinals faced the SMU Mustangs in the second round of the T. Rowe Price ACC Tournament on March 11, 2026. The game featured standout performances from both teams, with Louisville’s Corey Washington scoring 10 points and Jermaine Toombs contributing 11 points, while SMU’s A. Wooley and R. Conwell each added nine points. Louisville’s defensive efforts were highlighted by Isaac McKneely’s defensive rebound and multiple missed three-point attempts from SMU’s Boopie Miller. Key moments in the game included substitutions, such as Corey Washington subbing in for SMU and Jermaine O’Neal Jr. exiting the game. The game’s flow was marked by missed three-pointers, with Louisville’s Ryan Conwell and SMU’s Boopie Miller both failing to connect from beyond the arc. Louisville’s dominance in rebounding was evident, as they secured 14 total rebounds, with Washington and Toombs leading the charge. The standings for the 2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference showed Louisville at 11-7, tied with North Carolina and Clemson for fourth place in the conference. Virginia led the standings with a 15-3 record, followed by North Carolina and Clemson. The game’s outcome reflected the competitive nature of the conference, with Louisville’s performance aligning with their overall season trajectory. Other notable developments in men’s college basketball included Kentucky’s Mark Pope and Brandon Garrison expressing confidence in their team’s postseason potential after a tournament win, while St. Bonaventure’s Darryl Simmons II led his team to a 99-80 victory over La Salle in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.#louisville_cardinals #smu_mustangs #t_rowe_price_acc_tournament #corey_washington #jermaine_toombs
No. 13 Duke rallies past No. 12 Louisville 70-65 in overtime to win women's ACC Tournament No. 13 Duke Blue Devils secured their second consecutive women’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title with a 70-65 overtime victory over No. 12 Louisville Cardinals on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The game, played in the Ally ACC Tournament final, saw Taina Mair lead the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Delaney Thomas added 19 points to propel Duke to the win. The Blue Devils trailed for much of the contest but mounted a late rally in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime. Louisville, led by Imari Berry’s 18 points, held a narrow lead entering the extra period. In the overtime frame, Duke’s relentless offensive pressure and clutch free-throw shooting proved decisive. Mair’s 25-foot three-point jumper with 2:10 remaining in the extra session gave Duke the lead, and the team held off Louisville’s final attempts to secure the victory. Key moments in the game included a pivotal three-point play by Riley Nelson, who connected on a 23-foot jumper with an assist from Ashlon Jackson, and a crucial free-throw sequence by Taina Mair, who converted both shots to extend Duke’s lead. Louisville’s Tajianna Roberts and Laura Ziegler also contributed with key three-pointers, but Duke’s balanced scoring and defensive adjustments in the final minutes sealed the win. The Blue Devils’ ability to maintain composure in high-pressure moments highlighted their championship pedigree, while Louisville’s resilience in the overtime period underscored the competitive nature of the ACC Tournament. Duke’s victory marks another milestone in the program’s resurgence under head coach Joanne Pickett, who now guides the team to back-to-back titles.#duke_blue_devils #louisville_cardinals #taina_mair #delaney_thomas #joanne_pickett
