03/11/26 04:19:00
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03/11 16:17 CDT Conwell scores 16, hits 2 key shots late to rally No. 24
Louisville past SMU 62-58 in ACC tourney
Conwell scores 16, hits 2 key shots late to rally No. 24 Louisville past SMU
62-58 in ACC tourney
By STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) --- Ryan Conwell hit two key shots in the final 1:17 and
finished with 16 points as No. 24 Louisville battled back to beat SMU 62-58 on
Wednesday and advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament
quarterfinals.
Adrian Wooley added 14 points and Isaac McKneely had 10 for the Cardinals
(23-9), who'll face Miami on Thursday.
Jarron Pierre Jr. had 17 points and Jaden Toombs added 13 points and nine
rebounds for SMU (20-13), which led by six in the second half before Louisville
stormed back behind three inside baskets from Vangelis Zougris.
After a defensive struggle in the first half ended in a 26-all tie, SMU built
its biggest lead at 41-35 on back-to-back 3s by Sam Walters and Pierre from the
same spot in right corner.
The Mustangs, playing their second game in two days, appeared content to
patiently work time off the shot clock, extending every possession and
shortening the game.
But Louisville worked its way back after SMU's 7-foot-1 rim protector Samet
Yigitoglu picked up his fourth foul with 7:51 left and was forced to the bench.
That freed up Zougris to work in the middle, where he scored three key baskets
in a two-minute stretch.
Yigitoglu returned with the game tied at 56 and three minutes left and Pierre
briefly put the Mustangs ahead with a driving layup.
But after SMU's Corey Washington went down with a shoulder injury, Conwell took
over.
He hit a 3 to give the Cardinals the lead for good at 60-58 with 1:17 left.
SMU's Boopie Miller missed a 3 at the other end and Conwell drove the left side
of lane and scored on a left-handed layup with 29.4 seconds left to make it a
two-possession game.
Louisville played without star freshman Mikel Brown Jr., who is out for the
tournament with a back injury.
Up next
SMU: Awaits to see if it will make the NCAA Tournament. The Mustangs are
considered a bubble team.
Louisville: Will face Miami on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
___
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