AN OUTSTANDING scoring performance from Aussie Reyne Smith helped the Louisville Cardinals secure a win over the Winthrop Eagles in the NCAAM over the weekend.

Having made the move from Charleston over the offseason, Smith is not playing with many more eyes on his game as a member of the Cardinals. He had proven himself as a go-to scorer for his former side, and looked to take those talents to Louisville.

After a tight tussle to start the match, the Cardinals took the lead with just over six and a half minutes remaining in the match. They never trailed again from that point onwards, extending their lead in the second half en route to a commanding 15-point win to make it three wins in four games.

Smith was the star of the show for the winning side, pouring in an excellent offensive performance and steering the Cardinals to a winning score.

Louisville Cardinals (76) def. Winthrop Eagles (61)

Reyne Smith – 20 points, three rebounds, one assist

Coming off the bench to play a crucial role, Smith made every post a winner in his excellent performance against the Eagles, forcing the coaching staff to keep giving him court time with his excellent play.

His 20 points were the most of any player in the match, showing a strong ability to find the bottom of the net that was unmatched in Saturday’s clash.

Although it was a slow start to the match for him, with Smith missing his first two field goal attempts, a pair of free throws got him going, and he built strongly throughout the game. Once he had a couple of points to his name, his confidence was evident, and he began to knock down some shots from behind the arc.

The Aussie’s 20 points were largely made up of three-pointers, shooting 5/9 from behind the arc in a dominant display of shooting. He worked hard off the ball to get free and was ready to shoot as soon as he took possession.

Smith has a reliable shooting motion, and his quick-fire release does not give the opposition ample time to properly contest the shot. Although the Eagles tried to stay with him, Smith was simply too eager to get to his spot, and would make the opposition pay accordingly.

All of his three-point makes came off assists, showing he works best in catch and shoot scenarios rather than firing off attempts off the dribble. He works well in a Louisville team that likes to share the ball and he often gets on the end of some nifty passes.

It was a season-best performance from Smith, who continues to shine in a Cardinals uniform and should continue to impress with his offensive performances.