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
