Box Score HAMMOND, LOUISIANA – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team lost their first game in Southland Conference play on Thursday night, 76-72 at Southeastern Louisiana despite a late comeback attempt.

The Cardinals (12-2, 0-1) trailed by 11 points with 35 seconds remaining in the game and pulled to within three points after a Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) three-pointer with five seconds remaining.  Joshua Fillmore sealed the victory for the Lions (6-8, 1-2) when he made 1-of-2 free throws with two seconds to play.

The game started well for the Cardinals.  After seven minutes, they led 14-7, but the Lions would hold UIW to just three points over the next nine minutes.  SLU would finally take the lead 22-19 after a three-pointer by Jamichael Hawkins with 3:21 left in the first half.  The teams would continue to trade baskets for the rest of the half and the Cardinals went into the break with a 28-27 lead.
In the second half, the Lions took the lead for good on a steal and lay-up by Onochie Ochie with 16:38 to play.  The game remained close until SLU went on an 8-1 run to take a 12-point lead with 58 seconds to play.

The Cardinals shot 41.7 percent from the field, made 6-of-23 from three-point range and were 16-for-27 at the foul line.  Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) led the team with 18 points and seven rebounds.  Hittle added 15 points and six rebounds while Sam Burmeister (San Antonio/Churchill HS) and Anthony Horton (League City/Clear Creek HS) scored 13 and 12 points, respectively.  The team finished with 37 rebounds, 10 assists and six turnovers in the game.

The Lions shot 43.9 percent from the field, made 6-of-20 from three-point range and were 20-of-34 at the charity stripe.  Hawkins led the team with 17 points off the bench while Filmore, Julian Chiera and Antonnio Benton all scored in double figures.  Devonte Upson just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.  They had 39 rebounds, nine assists and 11 turnovers in the contest.

The loss snapped the Cardinals seven game winning streak.  They are back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. at New Orleans.
####
pr14014smm