Box Score ABILENE, TEXAS – Despite a career-high 24 points from freshman Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS), the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team fell, 76-68 at McMurry University on Saturday afternoon. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (4-5) struggled to contain the Warhawks' (6-2) Connor Robinson and Kenny Williams who combined for 40 points and 17 rebounds.  McMurry built up a 15-point lead in the first half.  However, the Cardinals closed out the half on a 13-4 run to close the half as Hittle hit a pair of three-pointers and Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) drained another at the buzzer to make it 35-29 at the half.

The Cardinals got off to a good start in the second half and they tied the game at 46-46 after another three-pointer by Livingston with 10:54 remaining in the contest.  They tied it against at 48-48, but were never able to take a lead.  Takoby Jackson hit a trio of three-pointers for the Warhawks to extend their lead to 60-52 with 5:06 to play, but the Cardinals would not give up.

The Cards closed to within one possession four different times in the final three minutes, but were never able to get the defensive stop.  Antonio Bell hit eight consecutive free throws in the final two minutes for the home side to keep the Cardinals at bay.

The Cardinals shot 48.1 percent from the field, made 6-of-13 from beyond the three-point line and were 10-of-13 from the foul line.  Hittle went 9-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from the three-point line.  Livingston added 11 points in 19 minutes before fouling out.  Lyn'Dale Brown (San Antonio/Judson HS) finished with 13 points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench.  The team had 24 rebounds and committed 13 turnovers.

The Warhawks posted the same numbers from the field as the Cardinals, 26-of-54.  They went 4-of-8 from the three-point line and made 20-of-27 free throws.  Williams had 22 points and seven boards on 11-of-16 shooting from the field.  Robinson had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds and went 7-for-10 from the field.  Jackson had 11 points and Bell finished with 10.  They had 37 rebounds as a team and committed 11 turnovers.

The Cardinals are back in action on December 19 at 7 p.m. against Texas A&M-International at home.
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