PITTSBURGH — In an exhilarating matchup on Saturday, Reyne Smith delivered a standout performance by sinking seven 3-pointers, leading Louisville to an 82-78 victory over Pittsburgh. This triumph marks the Cardinals’ sixth consecutive win.
The outcome also ended Pittsburgh’s impressive 15-game home winning streak, which included eight victories over fellow Atlantic Coast Conference competitors. Previously, Pittsburgh had also bested Louisville in their last five encounters.
Smith showcased his shooting skills, converting 7 out of 11 attempts from beyond the arc, with his pivotal 3-pointer at the 1:24 mark giving the Cardinals an 80-75 edge. Ishmael Leggett responded for Pittsburgh, narrowing the gap with a running 3-pointer. Although J’Vonne Hadley missed a long-range shot with 34 seconds remaining, he quickly regained possession, which facilitated Chucky Hepburn’s driving layup just 11 seconds left in the game.
Louisville, now sporting a record of 12-5 and 5-1 in conference play, entered the game following a 74-64 victory against Clemson, marking their fifth consecutive win—a feat not achieved by the program in four years. Hadley had an impressive outing against the Tigers, scoring 32 points, but it wasn’t until midway through the game against Pittsburgh that he began to contribute significantly, first with a layup and then a 3-pointer.
In the second half, Smith stepped up with four crucial 3-pointers, the first three of which allowed Louisville to take control of a contest filled with competitive lead changes. He concluded the game with 25 points, while Hepburn contributed significantly with 15 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. Terrence Edwards Jr. chimed in with 14 points and four assists, and Hadley added 13 points to the tally.
For Pittsburgh, Jaland Lowe led the scoring effort with an impressive 24 points, making all 13 of his free throw attempts. Leggett added 16 points, successfully hitting 4 of his 6 attempts from beyond the arc, while Damian Dunn came off the bench to contribute 15 points with a 3-for-4 performance from long range. Cameron Corhen rounded out the scoring for Pittsburgh with 11 points.
Looking ahead, Louisville will continue its road trip with a game against Syracuse on Tuesday, while Pittsburgh is set to face Florida State on Wednesday.
