Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team picked up a big win on Thursday night over Sam Houston State, 85-74 at the McDermott Center.  The Cardinals (15-3, 3-2) snapped the Bearkats (13-6, 5-2) four-game Southland Conference win streak.

Playing on television for the first time this season (CSN Houston), the Cardinals showed their best stuff in a well-rounded win.  They started the game a little slow falling behind 7-0 before scoring, but they would quickly get back in the flow.  The game went back and forth for most of the first half before UIW closed out the first half on an 11-3 run to take a 40-34 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Bearkats started to attack the basket more and quickly got in the bonus.  They would keep the game close at the free throw line, but they were unable to stop the Cardinals high-powered offense.

The Cardinals built up a 10-point lead with 11:38 to play after a jumper by Sam Burmeister (San Antonio/Churchill HS).  The lead ballooned to 16 points four minutes later on a lay-up by Winslo Barry (Nassau, Bahamas/Tyler JC).  Sam Houston State cut the lead to nine points on two occasions in the final three minutes, but were unable to get any closer.

The Cardinals received a number of outstanding performances with five players scoring in double figures.  Barry scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds in 14 minutes providing a spark off the bench.  The team shot 54.9 percent from the field, made 6-of-19 from three-point range and was 23-of-32 at the foul line. 

Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) led UIW with 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals for his ninth straight game with at least 17 points.  He went 12-of-15 at the foul line, both career highs.  Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) added 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and Burmeister finished with 13 points.  Anthony Horton (League City/Clear Creek HS) added 14 points, six points and two blocks while Mitchell Badillo (Houston/Cy Falls HS) had 14 points, four assists and three steals off the bench.

The Bearkats shot 41.8 percent from the field, made 6-of-17 from three-point range and went 22-of-29 at the free throw line.  James Thomas led the team with 18 points while Jabari Peters added 16 points.  Michael Holyfield just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.  They had two more rebounds than the Cardinals and committed one more turnover.

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