SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team opened the 2014-15 season with an easy win over visiting UT-Tyler on Friday night at the McDermott Center, 89-49.
The Cardinals (1-0) used a 19-2 first half run and excellent defense to run away from the Patriots (0-1). UIW limited the visitors to 29.0 percent shooting from the field in the first half. Meanwhile, junior
Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) got the season off to a good start with 14 first half points including seven in the during the run.
In the second half, the Cardinals offense moved into high gear and scored 46 points. They shot 48.4 percent in the half and scored 12 of their 20 fast break points. Overall, UIW outscored the Patriots, 27-3 on points off turnovers. They forced 19 and had 12 total steals.
The Cardinals shot 44.1 percent from the field, made 8-of-18 from three-point range and were 21-of-28 at the foul line. Hittle led the team with 19 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks while draining 4-of-6 from three-point range.
Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) added 16 points, four assists and six steals coming off the bench. Freshmen
Traylin Farris (Pearland/Manvel HS) and
Shawn Johnson (Gretna, LA/Alief Hastings HS) each posted double-doubles. Farris had 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes while Johnson added 12 points and 10 boards. Another freshman,
Jontrell Walker (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) scored 13 points and was 6-of-7 at the foul line.
Mitchell Badillo (Houston/Cy Falls HS) dished out seven assists and had three steals. The team had 51 rebounds, 20 assists, 10 blocks, 12 steals and 10 turnovers.
The Patriots shot 30.2 percent from the field, made 6-of-19 from three-point range and were only 5-of-14 at the foul line. Tyler Jacobs led the team with 13 points and six rebounds. They had 39 rebounds and 10 assists while playing 20 players in the game.
The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against Huston-Tillotson College.
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