Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Visiting Abilene Christian University came out of the gates on fire, but when it mattered it was the University of the Incarnate Word hitting the shots in an 80-68 win on Thursday night.  The Southland Conference men's basketball game at the McDermott Center was shown on ESPN 3.

The Wildcats (8-17, 2-9) could not miss a shot in the first half.  They knocked down their first six three-point attempts, including three by forward Austin Cooke.  The sixth three-pointer, by Julian Edmonson, gave the Wildcats a 28-14 lead with 11:24 left in the first half.  ACU would go on to hit 13 of their first 17 field goal attempts and shot a blistering 68.0 percent for the half.

The Cardinals (19-5, 7-4) were able to stay in the game because they also shot 52.4 percent from the field in the first half and got to the foul line 15 times where they made 13.  Denzel Livingston's (Houston/Waltrip HS) three-pointer with 24 seconds left in the half pulled UIW to within 46-38 at the break.

In the second half, the Cardinals turned the screws on defense and got some big shots from senior Anthony Horton (League City/Clear Creek HS) in the final home game of his career.  UIW held the Wildcats without a field goal over the final 8:58 of the game.

The Cardinals tied the game at 63-63 on Horton's corner three-pointer with 11:16 to play.  A minute later, UIW took the lead for good on a Livingston three-pointer coming off an assist by Horton.  The game continued to remain close when Horton hit a face up 18-footer with 3:47 left to give the Cardinals a 6-point lead.  On the team's next possession, Horton once again dished to Livingston who drained a three-pointer that seemed to decide the game with a little over three minutes remaining.

The Wildcats missed their final 10 field goal attempts of the game.

The Cardinals improved to 14-1 at home this year.  They shot 59.1 percent from the field, including 65.2 percent in the second half.  They went 9-of-16 from three-point range and were 19-of-24 at the foul line.  Livingston led the team with 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.  He hit a trio of three-pointers and was a perfect 10-of-10 at the foul line.  Horton finished with 18 points and five assists.  Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) added 14 points and three three-pointers. 

The Wildcats shot 46.8 percent from the field, went 8-of-15 from three-point range and were 16-of-21 at the foul line.  Edmonson led the team with 18 points.  Parker Wentz added 15 points and Cooke finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four steals.  ACU had one more rebound than UIW and committed three more turnovers.

The Cardinals now have two weeks off before their next game on February 27 at McNeese State at 7:30 p.m.
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