SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – University of the Incarnate Word junior point guard Mitchell Badillo's (Houston/Cy Falls HS) runner in the lane with 2.0 left capped off a dramatic come-from-behind victory over visiting McNeese State University.  UIW won 86-84 in Southland Conference men's basketball action at the McDermott Center on Monday night.

The Cardinals (11-5, 3-3) trailed the Cowboys (7-11, 1-6) 74-61 with 7:47 remaining in the game after a jumper by Desharick Guidry.  Coming out of the under 8-minute media timeout, UIW quickly went on a 10-1 run and then they took their first lead of the half on a layup by Badillo with 2:58 to play.  Guidry tied the game for the Cowboys the next time down the court after making 1-of-2 from the foul line.

The Cardinals went back ahead on their next possession.  Jontrell Walker (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) hit a tough pull-up 12-footer to make it 82-80, but Kevin Hardy tied the game quickly for the Cowboys on a driving layup.  UIW went back ahead on a monster dunk by Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) off a nice bounce pass from Walker.

Hardy had a chance to tie the game again for the Cowboys, but missed two straight free throws.  The Cardinals were not able to capitalize and McNeese got a defensive stop.  Hardy was fouled again and this time he converted on both ends of a 1-and-1 to tie the game with 12.6 seconds remaining.  After Hardy tied the game, Badillo kept the ball and split the top of the Cowboys defense and made a tough shot in the lane.

The Cowboys ran an out-of-bounds play from under the UIW basket, but the ball hit a speaker that was over the court near the midline.  The ball went back to the Cardinals and they were able to safely in-bounds the ball and run out the clock.

The Cowboys started the game making just 2-of-7 from the field, but then made their next eight shots to build up their lead.  Their biggest lead of the half came on a layup by Hardy to make it 46-34 at the break.  They shot 66.7 percent from the field in the half.

The Cardinals shot 49.2 percent from the field, made 8-of-27 from three-point range and were 18-of-20 at the foul line.  Walker had one of his best games of the season with 24 points and five assists and drained five three-pointers.  Livingston had 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists.  Badillo finished with 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds while Traylin Farris (Pearland/Manvel HS) added 12 points and seven boards.  The team had 14 more rebounds than the Cowboys and had 15 more second chance points.

The Cowboys shot 61.1 percent from the field, made 7-of-13 from three-point range and were 11-of-19 at the foul line.  Guidry recorded a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds while making 11-of-15 from the field.  Hardy finished with 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds while Jamaya Burr dished out nine assists.  They had three other players score in double figures.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Nicholls.
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