Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Freshman Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) knocked down a three-pointer and drained a pair of free throws in the final minute to cinch a win for the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team on Saturday at the McDermott Center.  The Cardinals defeated visiting Lone Star Conference rival Cameron, 74-69. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (4-3, 1-1) played a strong second half to pull out their first conference win of the season.  They came up with 10 offensive rebounds, nine assists and only two turnovers in the half.  Senior Lyn'Dale Brown (San Antonio/Judson HS) played lockdown defense while grabbing six offensive rebounds and dishing out five assists.

The Aggies (3-3, 0-2) held a slim 37-34 lead at halftime behind point guard Craig Foster who poured in 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field while dishing out three assists without a turnover.  In the second half, UIW head coach Ken Burmeister switched Brown onto Foster and he limited him to just one shot attempt and no points in the half.

The Aggies led in the second half for the first 8:15, but once the Cardinals took the lead on a jumper by Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) they never relinquished it.  The Cards boosted their lead to 63-55 with 7:04 remaining in the game after a jumper by Brown.

Cameron responded with a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Kimric Dixon with 4:20 remaining to make it 63-62 Cardinals.  Senior Dionelle Rucker (San Antonio/New Life Christian Academy) scored the next six points for the Cardinals to keep them in the lead.

The Aggies closed back to within two points with 1:17 remaining on a conventional three-point play by Tim Johnson.  Hittle hit a huge three-pointer for the Cardinals with 45 seconds remaining.  The Aggies scored with 15 seconds left and then Hittle was fouled with 10 seconds to play and calmly sank both ends of a 1-and-1.

The Cardinals shot 45.8 percent from the field, made 9-of-21 from three-point range and were 11-of-17 at the foul line.  Four players scored in double figures, but it was Rucker leading the way with his second double-double of the season, 17 points and 11 boards.  Freshman Mitchell Badillo (Houston/Cypress Falls HS) added a season-high 16 points and four assists while connecting on 4-of-7 from three-point land.  Hittle finished with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals while Livingston added 14 points off the bench.  The team had 30 rebounds, 19 assists and five turnovers.

The Aggies shot 56.3 percent from the field, made 6-of-17 from three-point range and were 9-of-16 at the foul line.  Foster led the team with 16 points and five assists.  Tim Johnson added 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting.  Aaron Thompson helped out with eight points and four assists off the bench.  They had 31 rebounds, 16 assists and 14 turnovers.

The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday at crosstown rival St. Mary's for a 7:30 tip-off.
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