Taquan Dean hit five 3-pointers for 15 points and No. 12 Louisville put together its best offensive performance in weeks, beating Saint Louis 84-66 Sunday night.
Larry O'Bannon scored 17, Francisco Garcia added 13 and Ellis Myles finished with 13 points and 18 rebounds for the Cardinals (23-4, 11-2 Conference USA), who finished with their highest point total since a 105-69 win over Tulane on Jan. 29.
Louisville shot 30-for-61 for 49.2 percent, its highest percent since converting 53 percent in a 99-52 win over Marquette on Jan. 26.
The Cardinals shot 13-for-29 from 3-point range (45 percent), their best effort beyond the arc since going 17-for-30 against Marquette.
Dean was 5-for-8 from 3-point range two days after Louisville coach Rick Pitino said he had mononucleosis.
Izik Ohanon scored 18 to lead Saint Louis (7-18, 4-8), which played most of the game without Coach Brad Soderberg, who was ejected in the first half.
The Cardinals had shot 35 percent in their last two home games, and they struggled offensively early Sunday.
Louisville trailed by four after missing 8 of its first 11 shots and making four turnovers in the opening six minutes.
The Cardinals started 1-for-8 from 3-point range, before Garcia made one from the corner with 5:05 left in the first half.
On Louisville's next possession, Soderberg screamed at referee Curtis Shaw for not calling Myles for traveling. Garcia hit another 3-pointer, giving Louisville its first lead at 24-22, and Soderberg continued his rant, drawing a technical from Shaw.
Referee Steve Welmer then faced off with Soderberg, who was restrained by assistants. When Welmer walked away, Soderberg angrily punched the air and Shaw gave him another technical, ejecting him.
Garcia sank the four resulting free throws to give the Cardinals a six-point edge.
The lead reached eight points, but the Billikens finished the half with a 9-3 burst to trail only 36-34 at the break.
The Cardinals opened the second half with a 21-6 run, finally finding the offensive rhythm that was missing in their last two home games. Louisville shot 4-for-8 from beyond the arc at the start of the second half, and Dean's 3 from the corner with 12:26 left put the Cardinals up 57-40.
Louisville won for the 12th time in 13 games. Saint Louis lost for the sixth time in seven conference games.