Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team used a 16-0 second half run to get past visiting Texas A&M-International, 80-59 on the team's final game of the 2012 year on Wednesday night at the McDermott Center. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (5-5) started the game slowly as they fell behind 18-10 in the first nine minutes.  They quickly got back in the game behind freshman point guard Mitchell Badillo (Houston/Cy Falls HS) who scored on a layup and then dished out three straight assists to give the team a 22-21 lead, their first of the game.

The Cardinals went into halftime with a 35-30 lead over the Dustdevils (5-4) after Hasani Sumbry (Houston/Westbury Christian HS) scored six points off the bench in the final 2:38 of the half.

The second half proved to be one of the best of the season for the Cardinals. They shot 65.2 percent from the field and went 12-of-14 from the foul line.  The Dustdevils tied the game 35-35 in the first few moments of the half, but the Cardinals soon followed with a 23-2 run that included 16 consecutive points.  The team built up a 21-point lead and cruised to the win.

The Cardinals dominated the paint area outscoring the Dustdevils, 46-24 on points in the paint and finished the game with nine blocked shots.  Sophomore guard Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) played a fabulous game with 21 points, eight rebounds, five blocks, four assists and three steals to lead the Cardinals.  He was 8-of-12 from the field and also knocked down a pair of three-pointers.

The Cardinals shot 59.6 percent from the field, made 3-of-9 from three-point range and were 21-of-25 at the foul line.  In addition to Livingston, four other players scored in double figures.  Dionelle Rucker (San Antonio/New Life Christian Academy) pumped in 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting.  Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) added 15 points and grabbed four rebounds while making 4-of-5 from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line.  Anthony Horton (League City/Clear Springs HS) just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine boards while Sumbry finished with 10 points and eight boards.

The Dustdevils shot 33.3 percent from the field, made 6-of-24 from three-point range and 13-of-26 from the charity stripe.  Damal Donaldson led the team with 12 points off the bench.  Johnel Gray added 11 points and seven rebounds while Matthew Culliver finished with eight points and six assists.

The Cardinals are off until January 2 when they travel to Lone Star Conference rival Texas A&M-Commerce.
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