PRESS RELEASE VIA ESPN
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Russ Smith scored a career-high 42 points and No. 5 Louisville cruised to a 94-65 victory over Houston on Friday in the semifinals of the inaugural American Athletic Conference tournament.
Smith shot 14 for 22 from the field and 5 for 7 from 3-point range. His final points came on a three-point play where he hit a reverse layup and converted the ensuing free throw.
Luke Hancock and Montrezl Harrell both added 12 for the Cardinals (28-5), the tournament’s second seed, who will face the winner of Friday’s second game between top-seeded Cincinnati and Connecticut.
TaShawn Thomas and Brandon Morris scored 13 each for Houston (17-16), while Danuel House had 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Cougars lost for only the second time in their last seven games.
