Box Score COMMERCE, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team had six players score in double figures en route to an 86-75 win at Lone Star Conference rival Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday night. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (6-5, 2-1) never trailed in the game and led by as many as 25 points in the first half.  They held a 46-22 lead at halftime and continued to hold a 20-point lead through the first 10 minutes of the second half.  The Lions (9-4, 2-1) closed the gap over the final 10 minutes and pulled to within nine points on two occasions, but never seriously threatened Incarnate Word.

The Cardinals came out strong in the first half behind freshman guard Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS).  Hittle went 6-of-8 from the field and poured in 16 of his team high 19 points in the first half.  The Cardinals shot 65.5 percent from the field while holding the Lions to 22.2 percent shooting from the field.

UIW finished the game shooting 59.3 percent from the field, made 5-of-16 from three-point range and were 17-of-19 at the charity stripe.  Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) posted a double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.  Dionelle Rucker (San Antonio/New Life Christian Academy) added 17 points, six rebounds and four assists.  The team pulled down five more rebounds than the Lions and dished out 22 assists.

The Lions shot 60 percent in the second half to raise their field goal percentage to 42.1 percent for the game.  They made 5-of-15 from three-point range and were 22-of-28 from the foul line.  Jason Smith led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds while Preston Whitley added 15 points.  Three other players scored in double figures. 

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at home against Tarleton State at 4 p.m.
####
pr13003smm