Louisville Edges SMU in ACC Tournament as Cardinals Move On and Mustangs Wait on NCAA Fate

Louisville survived a late push from SMU on Wednesday, beating the Mustangs 62-58 in the ACC Tournament to extend its postseason run and send SMU into an anxious wait for Selection Sunday.

The Cardinals, ranked No. 24 entering the game, improved to 23-9 with the win in Charlotte and advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinal against Miami. SMU fell to 20-13 after failing to close out a tight second-round game that stayed within one possession deep into the final minutes.

For Louisville, the result kept momentum alive at the right time. For SMU, it shifted the conversation from advancement to whether its overall résumé is strong enough to reach the NCAA Tournament field.

Ryan Conwell delivered late as Louisville closed stronger

The game was tied at 26 at halftime and never developed into an offensive showcase. Instead, it turned into the kind of March possession game where late shot-making matters more than rhythm.

Ryan Conwell gave Louisville exactly that. He finished with 16 points and hit two key baskets in the final 1:17, helping the Cardinals break through after SMU had kept the game tight throughout the second half.

That closing stretch was the difference. Louisville did not dominate for long periods, but it executed better when the game tightened. In tournament basketball, that can be enough.

The Cardinals also benefited from their defensive work in a low-scoring matchup, limiting second chances and forcing SMU to grind through half-court possessions rather than finding an easier tempo.

SMU’s missed opportunity now turns into bracket tension

For SMU, the loss is significant because it ends the Mustangs’ conference tournament run at 20-13 overall and 8-10 in ACC play. That leaves them in a familiar but uncomfortable position for this time of year: not out of the NCAA conversation, but no longer in control of it.

A win over Louisville would have strengthened SMU’s case and given the Mustangs another chance to add quality value in the quarterfinals. Instead, their profile now goes back under the microscope while automatic bids continue to disappear around the country.

That is the hardest part of March for bubble teams. Once the games stop, the résumé has to speak for itself, and there is no longer any immediate chance to repair a missed opportunity.

SMU did enough this season to stay in the national conversation, but Wednesday’s result leaves the program exposed to what happens elsewhere over the next few days.

Louisville keeps building a better March profile

Louisville’s season has already taken a noticeable step forward, and Wednesday’s result added another layer to that progress. The Cardinals entered the ACC Tournament back in the national rankings and now have a chance to keep improving their postseason position with another neutral-floor opportunity.

The win over SMU was not flashy, but it fit the profile of teams that can be dangerous in March: defend well enough, avoid panic late, and trust one or two experienced scorers to make the deciding plays.

At 23-9, Louisville has put together a season sturdy enough to matter in the bracket conversation beyond simply making the field. Every additional conference tournament win now becomes a seeding play as much as a survival play.

That is why the result carried weight beyond the second round. Louisville did not just advance. It preserved the chance to improve its path next week.

What came next for Louisville after the SMU win

The quick turnaround sent Louisville into Thursday’s ACC quarterfinal against Miami, giving the Cardinals little time to recover but another major chance to strengthen their standing before Selection Sunday.

That kind of back-to-back schedule is where depth, late-game composure and half-court discipline become even more important. Louisville showed enough of those traits against SMU to earn the opportunity, even if the performance also underlined how narrow the margins can be.

The Cardinals now move forward with momentum, while SMU is left to watch the rest of Champ Week and hope its body of work holds up. Wednesday’s game answered one immediate question by putting Louisville through to the next round. It may have created a much longer few days for the Mustangs.