Smiths combine for 45 points as Cards beat Depaul

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Russ Smith scored 25 points, Chris Smith added 20 and No. 14 Louisville got back on the right track with a 76-59 victory over DePaul on Saturday despite not having leading scorer Kyle Kuric.

The Cardinals (14-4, 2-3 Big East) had lost four of their previous five games, but avoided their first three-game home losing streak in 11 years by jumping out to an early lead against the Blue Demons and thwarting a late rally. Kuric, averaging 13 points, sustained a high left ankle sprain in practice earlier this week after the Cardinals had already lost to Providence by 31 points. But Louisville capitalized from the start and used an early 11-0 run to seize control against DePaul.

Brandon Young scored 14 points for the Blue Demons (10-7, 1-4), who cut the lead to five with just under 7 minutes to play but never got closer.

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