Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team won a highly entertaining game on Thursday night against visiting Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas, 87-72 at the McDermott Center.  The win was the first ever for the Cardinals against an NCAA Division I program at home.

The visiting Bears (4-11, 1-3) held the upper hand in the early going, but the Cardinals (14-2, 2-1) led for the final 22 minutes of the game.  Despite leading for the majority of the contest, the game was not really decided until Anthony Horton's (League City/Clear Creek HS) baseline jumper with 37 seconds left gave UIW an 8-point lead. 

In the first half, the lead changed hands 10 times and the score was tied on five occasions.  The Bears built up a seven-point midway through the first half when Jalen Jackson stole a pass and went in for a breakaway dunk with 8:42 to play in the half.  The full court run and jump defense of the Bears forced the Cardinals into 19 turnovers in the contest.

The game stood at 30-26 in favor of the Bears when the Cardinals went on an 11-1 run that included seven consecutive points by Horton.  UIW went into halftime with a 37-32 lead.

The Cardinals started the second half on a 6-0 run and took a 43-32 lead after a three-pointer by Sam Burmeister (San Antonio/Churchill HS) with 18:45 to play.  The Bears got back into the game by making six consecutive shots and pulled to within two points on a jumper by Jackson with 15:35 remaining.

UIW immediately responded with a 12-2 run over the next three minutes.  A blocked shot by Ian Markolf (San Antonio/Churchill HS) led to a fast break layup for Justin Philippe (Linden, NJ/Linden HS) to cap the run.  Once again the Bears came back and this time it was due to some excellent long range shooting as they hit four three-pointers over the next four minutes.  DuShaun Rice's trifecta with 8:16 to play made it 63-61 in favor of the Cardinals.

The game would remain close down the stretch.  After a conventional three-point play by LaQuentin Miles with 2:17 left in the game made it 76-72 in favor of UIW, the Cardinals quickly broke the full court pressure and Burmeister converted a layup.  Niether team was able to score over the next 1:30 until Horton calmly drained the most important shot of the contest.  UIW closed out the game by making 7-of-8 free throws.

The Cardinals outscored the Bears, 48-24 on points in the paint and held a huge advantage on the glass.   Markolf's career-high 19 rebounds helped UIW outrebound UCA, 49-32.

The Cardinals shot 46.3 percent from the field, made 2-of-14 from three-point range and were 23-of-34 from the foul line, including a 17-of-21 performance in the second half.  Horton finished with a season high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor.  Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) had an outstanding game with 19 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals.  Burmeister, Philippe and Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) each scored in double figures.  Overall, UIW had 21 assists, five blocks and eight steals.

The Bears shot 42.6 percent from the field, made 9-of-17 from three-point range and were 11-of-19 at the foul line.  Miles led the team with 21 points, but committed eight turnovers.  Tirrell Brown posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.  McClure scored 13 points while Aubrey Ball came off the bench to score 12 points while making all four of his three-point attempts.  They had 12 assists and six steals in the game.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 4 p.m. at home against Oral Roberts.
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