No. 20 Louisville rallies past SMU 88-74

Mikel Brown Jr. scores 20 points off the bench to lead comeback

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The No. 20 Louisville Cardinals used a 10-0 second-half run to rally past the SMU Mustangs 88-74 on Saturday. Mikel Brown Jr. led the way for Louisville, scoring 20 points off the bench, while Isaac McKneely added 14 points.

Why it matters

This win helps keep Louisville's strong season on track as they continue to climb the rankings. The Cardinals are looking to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, and this comeback victory over a tough SMU team is an encouraging sign.

The details

Louisville trailed SMU for much of the game, but a 10-0 run in the second half turned the tide. Brown Jr. was a spark off the bench, scoring 20 points to lead the Cardinals' offense. McKneely also had a solid game, contributing 14 points to the winning effort.

  • The game was played on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Mikel Brown Jr.

A key bench player for the Louisville Cardinals, scoring 20 points to lead the team's comeback.

Isaac McKneely

A starting guard for Louisville who scored 14 points in the win over SMU.

Louisville Cardinals

The No. 20 ranked college basketball team that rallied from behind to defeat SMU 88-74.

SMU Mustangs

The opponent that Louisville came back to defeat in this game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew we had to dig deep and fight back in the second half. I'm proud of the way the team responded and made the plays we needed to get the win.”

— Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville Player

What’s next

Louisville will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their conference schedule. Their next game is against a tough opponent, so they will need to maintain this momentum.

The takeaway

Louisville's ability to rally from behind and secure the victory over SMU demonstrates the team's resilience and potential to make a deep postseason run. The Cardinals' balanced scoring attack and strong bench play were key factors in this comeback win.