Box Score AUSTIN, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team held off a late charging UT-Permian Basin squad, 80-77 on Friday evening at the St. Edward's Shootout. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (1-0) led for the majority of the game by double figures after getting off to an 18-5 start to the game.  The Falcons (0-1) closed to within three points midway through the first half before the Cards closed out the period on a 12-4 run to take a 34-23 lead into halftime.

The Cardinals led by as many as 17 points in the second half and still led by 10 points with 1:20 remaining after a pair of free throws by Kelcey Solomon (Houston/Worthing HS).  The Falcons made things interesting when Rob Heyer scored on a conventional three-point play followed by a long-range three-pointer by Anthony Dees after UIW missed two free throws.

Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) made an important layup with 37 seconds remaining to make it a 6-point game, but the Falcons would not go away.  Madison Turner's three-pointer with seven seconds remaining made it a 79-77 lead.  Livingston made 1-of-2 free throws, but the Falcons were unable to get off a potential game-tying three-pointer.

The Cardinals dominated the paint area outscoring the Falcons, 54-26 in the game on points in the paint.  Dionelle Rucker (San Antonio/New Life Christian Academy) was having a career game for the Cardinals before a second technical foul knocked him out of the game with 7:42 remaining.  He finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and three blocks after going 13-of-17 from the field.

The Cardinals shot 56.9 percent from the field, but only made 1-of-10 from three-point range and 13-of-24 from the foul line.  Solomon finished with 21 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 8-of-12 from the floor.  Lyn'Dale Brown (San Antonio/Judson HS) added 12 points and five assists without a turnover in 32 minutes.  Livingston finished with 11 points and four steals off the bench.  UIW committed 10 turnovers and forced 16.

The Falcons shot 41.1 percent from the field, made 7-of-16 from three-point range and were 24-of-28 at the foul line.  They had five players score in double figures and were led by Turner's 15 points.  Keith Martin led all players with nine rebounds and UTPB pulled down six more rebounds than the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 8 p.m. against St. Edward's/
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