Incarnate Word's Cardinals took a step forward Saturday led by junior guard Lyndale Brown but it took an extra five minutes as UIW beat Cameron in overtime 68-65.

It was a battle between teams which were tied in the standings as crunch time has come in the chase for positions in the upcoming Lone Star Conference championship tournament set to begin February 29 in Allen, Texas.

With the victory UIW (14-9) goes to 10-6 in league play while Cameron (13-9) fell a game behind at 9-7.  Incarnate Word is now fourth seed and, depending on what West Texas A&M (8-5) does Saturday night, could be third. 

Incarnate Word had been ahead for the lion's share of the game but with 1:30 left in regulation the Aggies had their largest margin of the affair, four points, and led 55-51.  Enter Brown.

He was fouled and made one of two at the line.  At 0:47 he made a jump shot and the Cardinals were within one at 55-54.  He committed a foul but turned right around and stole the inbounds pass leading to a made jump shot by senior guard Shaun Umeh and UIW was ahead at 0:17.

Cameron pushed the ball forward and in seven seconds got a three-pointer from Milton Garner to lead 58-56.  But Brown was even quicker as he hit a runner off the glass in just five seconds to send the game to overtime.

He wasn't done just yet.  He made the first goal of overtime and then turned it over to his partners at the free throw line.  Umeh made a pair to go with a jumper before freshman guard Denzel Livingston made four straight freebies with the Aggies intentionally fouling trying to prolong the game.

Brown finished with 11 points by scoring nine in the second half including five in the final 1:23 of regular time.  He also had three assists and a pair of steals.

Umeh led the Cardinals with his 16 while senior forward Chris Johnson posted his sixth double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds.  Livingston was the fourth UIW player in double figures with his 12.

Incarnate Word has two Lone Star games remaining.  The Cardinals host Abilene Christian on Wednesday, February 15, for senior night before traveling to Angelo State on February 18.

But first UIW will host Ecclesia College in an add-on game.  It is at 2 p.m. Sunday (February 12) in the McDermott Center.