INDIANAPOLIS — Russ Smith matched his career high with 31 points to lead three Cardinals in double figures, and top-seeded Louisville overcame its toughest test yet in a 77-69 victory over Oregon on Friday night.
Kevin Ware added 11 and Gorgui Dieng had 10 points and nine rebounds for Louisville, which has won 13 straight.
The 12th-seeded Ducks (28-9) managed to make a game of it late. After Louisville went up 66-48 with 9:01 left, Oregon made six straight field goals to pull within 70-64 — the closest anyone’s been to the Cardinals in a couple of weeks. But Ware scored on a layup and Chane Behanan threw down a monstrous dunk to put the game out of reach.
Louisville (32-5) plays the winner of Michigan State-Duke on Sunday.
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