PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team picked up an impressive early season victory on Saturday. The Cardinals traveled to Jadwin Gym and knocked off Princeton University, 79-68.
It was a game of runs as both the Cardinals (3-0) and Tigers (1-3) had the better run of play for extended periods of the game. However, the Cardinals' mental and physical toughness showed through in the end according to head coach
Ken Burmeister. UIW went 35-of-39 at the charity stripe and made 14-of-15 in the last 1:47 of the game.
Burmeister was particularly impressed with the play of two of his freshmen,
Jontrell Walker and
Traylin Farris (Houston/Manvel HS). Walker led the team with 21 points and went 10-of-11 at the foul line while Farris had 16 points in only 19 minutes of action. "Jontrell and Traylin both played well for us today and we needed them. This was probably the best Division I win in the program's history," said Burmeister.
The game started well for the Cardinals and they led 14-10 after eight minutes. Then, the team went on a 15-2 run that was capped by three consecutive three-pointers by
Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS), Walker and
Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS). Livingston's three-pointer made it 29-12 with 7:42 left in the first half.
Princeton started to turn the tide after that thanks to Spencer Weisz. He knocked down a pair of three-pointers and scored 10 points in a five minute span while the Cardinals suddenly went cold from the floor. The Cardinals limped into halftime with a 31-27 lead.
Weisz and the Tigers came out firing in the second half. He hit two more three-pointers in the first 1:30 to give Princeton their first lead of the game. The game stayed close, but the Tigers were able to extend their lead to 43-38 with 13:48 to play on a layup by Amir Bell.
The Cardinals responded with their second 15-2 run of the game.
Mitchell Badillo (Houston/Cy Falls HS) tied the game at 43-43 with a conventional three-point play and UIW took the lead for good on a
John Baker (Adkins/East Central HS) layup with11:01 to play.
The UIW lead went to nine points after a three-point play by Walker with 8:13 remaining, but the Tigers would not go away. They pulled to with two points on a thunderous Steven Cook dunk and free throw. Farris led the UIW response by scoring the team's next seven points to make it 63-56 with 5:36 remaining.
The game looked in doubt for the Cardinals when Livingston fouled out with 3:15 to play and only a five point lead. However, Badillo and Walker were able to handle the pressure defense of the Tigers and make the key free throws down the stretch.
The Cardinals shot 37.3 percent from the field, made 6-of-15 from three-point range and made 89.7 percent of their free throws. Walker had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists while Badillo had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists while making 8-of-9 from the foul line. Hittle had 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks while Livingston had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. The team had three players foul out.
The Tigers shot 35.6 percent from the field, made 4-of-18 from three-point range and were 22-of-29 at the foul line. Weisz poured in 22 points and 8-of-14 shooting from the floor and 4-of-6 from three-point land. Hans Brase posted a double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Cook added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
The Cardinals are back in action on Monday night at 7 p.m. at home against Texas A&M-International.
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