SMU beats No. 21 Louisville 95-85 for another home win over ranked ACC opponent

Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 25 points and Boopie Miller had 23 points with nine assists as SMU ended Louisville's five-game winning streak.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 2:55pm

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SMU defeated No. 21 Louisville 95-85 on Tuesday night, ending the Cardinals' five-game winning streak. Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 25 points and Boopie Miller had 23 points with nine assists for the Mustangs, who went ahead to stay on Miller's short floater in the lane with 6:19 left. SMU's win was their second at home over a ranked ACC opponent this season, following a victory over then-No. 12 North Carolina on Jan. 3.

Why it matters

This win could be significant for SMU's push to reach their first NCAA Tournament since 2017, as they continue to build momentum under second-year coach Andy Enfield. The Mustangs' ability to beat ranked ACC opponents at home demonstrates their competitiveness against top-tier programs.

The details

SMU (18-8, 7-6 ACC) went ahead to stay on Miller's short floater in the lane with 6:19 left that broke a 76-all tie. That was the second of six consecutive made field goals by the Mustangs, including a pair of 3-pointers by Corey Washington, who finished with 18 points. Miller's alley-oop pass to Pierre for a dunk with 1:49 remaining pushed the lead to 91-83. Standout freshman Mikel Brown Jr. had 29 points for Louisville (19-6, 8-5), whose winning streak started with an 88-74 home win over SMU on Jan. 31.

  • The game was played on Tuesday night.
  • SMU's previous win over a ranked ACC opponent was on Jan. 3 against then-No. 12 North Carolina.
  • Louisville's five-game winning streak started with an 88-74 home win over SMU on Jan. 31.

The players

Jaron Pierre Jr.

An SMU player who scored 25 points in the game.

Boopie Miller

An SMU player who had 23 points and 9 assists in the game.

Corey Washington

An SMU player who scored 18 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Mikel Brown Jr.

A standout freshman for Louisville who scored 29 points in the game.

Andy Enfield

The second-year head coach of SMU.

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What’s next

SMU hosts Boston College on Saturday, while Louisville is home against Georgia Tech on Saturday.

The takeaway

SMU's ability to beat ranked ACC opponents at home, including their second such win this season, demonstrates their competitiveness and could be a key factor in their push to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 under second-year coach Andy Enfield.