Russ Smith has seen enough valleys in his Louisville career to know the importance of returning to the peak in the next game. Thursday night provided another example of the heights the Cardinals guard can reach when his game is on. Smith scored 21 second-half points, including 12 straight over a 3:03 stretch that put No. 12 Louisville ahead for good and helped the Cardinals beat St. John's 72-58. He finished with a game-high 24, a huge recovery from Saturday night's 104-101, five-overtime loss at Notre Dame that included several ill-advised shots.
