Louisville Cardinals Defeat SMU Mustangs in High-Scoring Affair

Cardinals extend winning streak to 6 games with victory over Mustangs

Feb. 19, 2026 at 10:47am

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The #21 Louisville Cardinals defeated the SMU Mustangs 88-74 in a high-scoring college basketball matchup on Tuesday night. Led by their star-studded backcourt of Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown, the Cardinals used their efficient offense and stifling defense to overcome the Mustangs' high-powered scoring attack.

Why it matters

This victory extends Louisville's winning streak to 6 games as they look to make a strong push before the end of the regular season. For SMU, the loss is a missed opportunity to pick up a marquee win against a ranked ACC opponent and bolster their NCAA Tournament resume.

The details

Louisville's offense was firing on all cylinders, led by Conwell's 18.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, and Brown's 17.9 points per game. The Cardinals' 125.1 adjusted offensive efficiency ranks 12th in the nation. Meanwhile, SMU's high-powered offense, averaging 86.2 points per game, was unable to overcome Louisville's stifling defense, which ranks 27th in the country in defensive efficiency.

  • The teams last met on January 31st, with Louisville winning 88-74.
  • This game took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Ryan Conwell

A standout guard for the Louisville Cardinals, averaging 18.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Mikel Brown

A freshman phenom for the Louisville Cardinals, ranking second on the team in scoring with 17.9 points per game.

Kevin Miller

A key player for the SMU Mustangs, averaging 18.9 points per game.

Jaron Pierre Jr.

Another standout guard for the SMU Mustangs, averaging 17.4 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew SMU would be a tough opponent, but our guys stepped up and executed our game plan to perfection. This was a big win for us as we look to make a strong push towards the end of the season.”

— Chris Mack, Head Coach, Louisville Cardinals

“We just couldn't find a way to slow down their offense tonight. Louisville is a very talented team, and we'll need to go back to the drawing board to figure out how to better defend against that type of high-powered attack.”

— Tim Jankovich, Head Coach, SMU Mustangs

What’s next

The Louisville Cardinals will look to continue their winning streak as they prepare for their next game against the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, February 21st. The SMU Mustangs will aim to rebound from this loss as they take on the Houston Cougars on Thursday, February 20th.

The takeaway

This game showcased the offensive firepower of the Louisville Cardinals, who were able to overcome the high-scoring SMU Mustangs with their efficient scoring attack and stifling defense. The victory extends Louisville's winning streak and keeps them in the hunt for a strong finish to the regular season, while SMU missed an opportunity to pick up a marquee win to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume.