TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Russ Smith scored 15 points and No. 12 Louisville stayed within a game of first place in the Big East with a 59-41 victory over South Florida on Sunday.

Smith, Wayne Blackshear and Kevin Ware did all the scoring for the Cardinals during a 22-3 run in the first half. Smith also had six rebounds and four assists for Louisville, which has won four of five.

Blackshear’s 3-pointer pulled Louisville (21-5, 9-4) even at 11-all and launched the decisive rally. Smith scored the final seven points of the spurt, which left the Cardinals with a 30-14 lead.

The Bulls (10-15, 1-12) cut the margin to six early in the second half with the help of a spectacular dunk by Victor Rudd and two free throws by Anthony Collins, but Louisville went back to its full-court pressure to produce another big run of 19-3 in the second half.

Jawanza Poland scored 11 points for USF, which shot 24.5 percent and lost its eighth straight.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.