CEDAR HILL, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team opens their initial season at the NCAA Division I level with a road game against Northwood University, a member of the NAIA and Red River Athletic Conference, on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.

The Cardinals have a team that has a good mix of returners and newcomers.  They have five players who have started at least 14 games in their careers.  Junior guard Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 2012-13 while blocking 41 shots and picking up 52 steals.  Sophomore guard Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) was the Lone Star Conference co-Freshman of the Year last year after averaging 10.5 points per game while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three-point range.

UIW will be much bigger than last year with 7-1 senior center Ian Markolf (San Antonio/Churchill HS) back in the mix after missing all of last season with an injury.  He averaged 7.5 points and 6.1 rebounds for the team in 2011-12.

The Knights (1-0) opened their season with a 103-77 win against Open Bible College on Tuesday.  They are on the road on Friday at North Texas.  They went 4-22 in 2011-12.
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