No. 9 Louisville 84, No. 18 Southern Methodist 71: Russ Smith racked up 26 points, six rebounds and five assists as the visiting Cardinals avoided losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Louisville (25-5, 14-3 AAC) rebounded from Saturday's loss to Memphis by making 13-of-23 3-pointers - including Smith's perfect 6-of-6 effort, all in the second half - and recording 17 steals, highlighted by Chris Jones' six swipes. Jones also had 21 points while Montrezl Harrell (19 points, eight rebounds) and Luke Hancock (15 points) also scored in double figures.

Nick Russell scored 18 points to pace Southern Methodist (23-7, 12-5), which had been 15-0 at home. Markus Kennedy contributed 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, but the Mustangs could not overcome 23 turnovers.

SMU trailed 32-30 at halftime before scoring seven of the first eight points of the second half, including five straight points by Sterling Brown. However, Louisville responded with eight straight points - six by Jones - to push ahead by four.

The Cardinals led by three with 6 1/2 minutes remaining before Smith made three 3-pointers in less than three minutes. Smith added a layup and a jumper down the stretch as Louisville extended its lead to double digits and moved a half-game ahead of Cincinnati for first place in the league standings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Louisville only received points from five players, as F Wayne Blackshear's three points accounted for all of the team's bench offense. ... Jones was 4-of-7 from 3-point range while Hancock was 3-of-8. ... Harrell and Stephan Van Tresse notched three steals apiece.