Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Senior Night for the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team did not turn out as planned with the team dropping an 82-68 decision to visiting Lone Star Conference rival Abilene Christian University on Wednesday night at the McDermott Center. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (13-12, 9-8) led for a total of 32 seconds in the game as the Wildcats (12-13, 6-11) started the game hitting on all cylinders.  ACU opened the game on a 24-5 run through the first 10:36 of the game.  They maintained a double digit lead for the rest of the first half and took a comfortable 41-23 lead into halftime.

Coming out of the break, the Cardinals briefly put a scare into the Wildcats.  UIW poured in 16 points in the first 3:09 of the second half thanks to a trio of three-pointers by Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS).  After his third three-pointer of the half, the Cardinals trailed by just six points, 45-39 with 16:51 remaining.  Unfortunately, that was as close as the Cardinals could get.
ACU responded with a few jumpers by Eric Lawton, but they took advantage of their great size advantage on the inside and scored repeatedly on baskets in the paint.  They outscored the Cardinals, 38-20 on points in the paint for the game.

The Cardinals shot 39.3 percent from the field, made 7-of-27 from three-point range and were 17-of-21 from the foul line.  Livingston and senior Dionelle Rucker (San Antonio/New Life Christian Academy) each had 22 points for the club.  Livingston knocked down four three-pointers while Rucker went 8-of-14 from the field.  Senior Lyn'Dale Brown (San Antonio/Judson HS) added 11 points, five rebounds and four steals.  UIW's third senior, Isai Pina (McAllen/Memorial HS) added four points and made a three-pointer in four minutes of action.  The team had 26 rebounds and committed 13 turnovers.

The Wildcats shot 57.7 percent from the field, made 5-of-13 from three-point range and made 17-of-22 at the foul line.  Lawton led the team with 18 points and four assists while Dosh Simms had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.  Steven Werner added 14 points and six boards while Parker Wentz finished with 13 points off the bench.

The Cardinals play their final regular season game of the year at LSC rival Angelo State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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