Louisville Bench Propels Win Over SMU

Cardinals overcome early deficit with strong second-half performance

Jan. 31, 2026 at 6:39pm

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Louisville's bench unit provided a crucial spark, outscoring SMU 47-5 as the Cardinals rallied from an early 12-point deficit to defeat the Mustangs 88-74. Freshman Mikel Brown Jr. led Louisville with 20 points, while Khani Rooths recorded a double-double in his return from injury.

Why it matters

This was an important bounce-back win for Louisville after a tough road loss at Duke. The Cardinals' bench production and defensive intensity in the second half proved to be the difference, showcasing the team's depth and resilience as they look to make a push in ACC play.

The details

Louisville trailed by as many as 12 points early on as SMU hit five of their first six three-pointers. However, the Cardinals slowly chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to just three at halftime. In the second half, Louisville's defense clamped down, holding SMU to just 27 points. The Cardinals also dominated the paint, outscoring the Mustangs 42-32 and winning the rebounding battle.

  • Louisville trailed by 12 points in the opening minutes.
  • The Cardinals cut the deficit to 3 at halftime.
  • Louisville outscored SMU by 17 in the second half.

The players

Mikel Brown Jr.

A freshman guard who led Louisville with 20 points, including 3 three-pointers, and added 4 assists.

Khani Rooths

A Louisville forward who recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and 4-of-5 shooting in his first game back from injury.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Louisville hosts Notre Dame in the KFC Yum! Center on Wednesday night.

The takeaway

This game showcased Louisville's depth and resilience, as their bench unit provided a crucial spark to overcome an early deficit and secure an important conference win. The Cardinals' defensive intensity and dominance in the paint in the second half were key factors in the victory.