SMU Upsets No. 21 Louisville in High-Scoring Affair

Jaron Pierre Jr. and Boopie Miller lead the Mustangs to victory over the Cardinals

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In a fast-paced matchup between two of the Atlantic Coast Conference's top scoring offenses, Southern Methodist University defeated No. 21 Louisville 95-85 on Tuesday night in Dallas. SMU's Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 25 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, while teammate Boopie Miller added 23 points and 9 assists to power the Mustangs' upset victory.

Why it matters

This win is a significant boost for SMU's NCAA Tournament hopes, as they improve to 18-8 overall and 7-6 in ACC play. For Louisville, the loss snaps a five-game winning streak and drops them to 19-7 on the season and 8-5 in the conference.

The details

SMU shot a blistering 58.5% from the field, including 9-of-19 from 3-point range. The Mustangs also had 17 assists on their 38 made field goals. Louisville was led by freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr., who scored 29 points but also had a season-high 7 turnovers. The Cardinals shot just 36.4% in the second half as SMU's defense clamped down.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

Jaron Pierre Jr.

A fifth-year guard for SMU who scored 25 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the win.

Boopie Miller

An SMU guard who finished with 23 points and 9 assists in the victory.

Mikel Brown Jr.

A freshman guard for Louisville who led the Cardinals with 29 points but also had a season-high 7 turnovers.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough game against a ranked opponent, but our guys stepped up and played with a lot of energy and focus. Jaron and Boopie really led the way for us tonight.”

— Tim Jankovich, SMU Head Coach (statenews.net)

What’s next

SMU will look to build on this signature win as they continue their ACC schedule, while Louisville will try to bounce back from the loss and regain their momentum.

The takeaway

This game showcased the high-powered offenses of both teams, but in the end it was SMU's balanced attack and timely defensive stops that allowed them to pull off the upset over the ranked Cardinals. The Mustangs proved they can compete with the best teams in the ACC and boosted their NCAA Tournament resume with this impressive victory.