Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team entered Wednesday night's game with St. Edwards' University at the seventh best three-point shooting team in the country, but had to rely upon their inside game to pull out the 77-67 victory at the McDermott Center.

The Cardinals (7-1) struggled to hit from outside and at the foul line connecting on 3-of-15 from beyond the arc and only 14-of-28 at the charity stripe, but they outscored the Hilltoppers (3-5) 52-26 on points in the paint.  With St. Edward's overplaying the outside shot of the Cardinals, senior center Ian Markolf (San Antonio/Churchill HS) was able to take advantage scoring a career-high 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

In the early going it was all Cardinals as they scored the first 17 points of the game, but the Hilltoppers were able to get back into the game thanks to their own three-point shooting.  At one point in the first half, they connected on five three-pointers in a row cutting the lead to 30-25 with 5:56 to play in the first half before they finally missed from outside.  UIW responded with a 7-0 run, but SEU was able to get the game back in single digits before halftime on a short jumper by Frankie Mgbolu with two seconds showing on the clock.

The Cardinals led 40-32 at the half, but the Hilltoppers came out firing in the second half knocking down three-pointers on their first two possessions and it was a battle the rest of the way.  Fortunately, the Cardinals had an answer every time SEU seriously threatened and never allowed the visitors to take the lead.

Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) had a huge second half for the Cardinals scoring 12 of his 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds.  Down the stretch he came up with a number of big baskets for UIW and scored eight of the team's 10 points over a five minute stanza.

UIW finally put the game away in the final minute when Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) drained a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining and then Livingston picked up a steal and a breakaway lay-up that turned into a three-point play when he was fouled.

The Cardinals shot 52.6 percent from the field despite their struggles from long range.  Markolf and Livingston each posted double-doubles with Markolf blocking three shots and Livingston nabbing three steals.  Hittle added 13 points and six boards while Sam Burmeister (San Antonio/Churchill HS) and Anthony Horton (League City/Clear Springs HS) each scored 10 points.  They had 43 rebounds, 14 assists and 13 turnovers as a team.

The Hilltoppers shot 33.8 percent from the field, made 9-of-24 from three-point range and were 8-for-14 at the foul line.  John Gramlich led the team with 12 points while Ethan Gilbert had 11 points and Mgbolu added 11 points and 10 boards.  Harley Nussman just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.  They had 42 rebounds, 12 assists and 11 turnovers as a team.

The Cardinals are back in action on December 14 at 4 p.m. against McMurry University at home.
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