In a thrilling showdown at the Spectrum Center, senior guard Ryan Conwell emerged as the hero for the University of Louisville, scoring 16 points, including the decisive final four, to secure a 62-58 victory over SMU. This win propels Louisville (23-9) into the ACC Championship quarterfinals, where they'll face the third-seeded Miami Hurricanes.
Head coach Pat Kelsey was full of praise for SMU and their coach, Andy Enfield, acknowledging the Mustangs' offensive prowess. "A lot of credit to SMU," Kelsey said.
"We played at their place recently, and they really challenged us. Their offensive firepower is top-notch.
Proud of our guys for pulling through."
The game was a nail-biter, featuring 16 lead changes and nine ties. Louisville's late 6-0 run in the final moments turned a two-point deficit into a victory, marking their second consecutive year reaching the ACC quarterfinals.
Conwell led the charge offensively, shooting 6-of-15 from the field and sinking two crucial 3-pointers. Adrian Wooley contributed significantly with 14 points, going 7-of-8 from the free throw line, and added six rebounds and two assists. Isaac McKneely chipped in 10 points, grabbed a career-high seven rebounds, and tied his season high with five assists.
The game started with Wooley putting Louisville on the board, sparking an early 7-3 lead. SMU quickly responded with a six-point run to seize their first lead at 9-7.
The back-and-forth battle continued, with SMU holding a slim 16-15 advantage at the under-8 media timeout. McKneely's free throws briefly put Louisville back on top, but a B.J.
Davis-Ray 3-pointer swung the lead back to SMU. McKneely's own 3-pointer ignited a 9-3 Louisville run, giving them their largest lead of the half at 26-20.
However, SMU closed the half on a 6-0 run, tying the game at 26-26.
In the first half, Louisville shot 30% from the field and struggled from deep at 14%, but excelled from the free throw line at 89%. They capitalized on nine SMU turnovers, converting them into 12 points. McKneely led with seven points, while Wooley was strong on the boards.
The second half began with SMU's Boopie Miller hitting a jumper, but Conwell quickly answered with a 3-pointer, setting the stage for a dynamic half. SMU's 11-2 run gave them a 41-35 lead, their largest of the game. The Mustangs maintained a narrow lead until Vangelis Zougris sparked a 9-2 Louisville run, putting them ahead 52-50.
With SMU leading 58-56 late, Louisville took control. Zougris hit a crucial free throw, and Conwell's 3-pointer gave Louisville a 60-58 lead with just over a minute remaining. A defensive stand kept SMU scoreless, and Conwell's layup sealed the game at 62-58.
Louisville finished shooting 40% overall, 23% from three, and 70% from the line, while narrowly outscoring SMU in the paint. SMU’s Jaron Pierre Jr. led all scorers with 17 points as the Mustangs shot 43% from the field and held a slight edge in rebounds.
Reflecting on the win, Kelsey emphasized the team's resilience: "On a night we didn’t shoot our best, we just found a way to win. In tournament play, it's all about surviving and advancing. Proud of their fight."