Box Score LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team has made a habit of coming from behind this year, but McNeese State played well down the stretch to hold onto an 87-72 Southland Conference victory at Burton Coliseum on Thursday night.

The Cardinals (19-6, 7-5) were coming off a two-week break and looking for their 20^th win of the season.  The offense was looking good with 35 points in the first 15 minutes of the game, but then managed just one bucket over the remaining five minutes of the first half and trailed 43-37 at the half.

The Cardinals came out strong in the second half and grabbed a lead on a three-pointer by Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) with 14:58 left in the game.  A minute later, a layup by Winslo Barry (Nassau, Bahamas/Tyler JC) gave UIW a 50-47 lead.

The Cowboys (9-18, 7-8) responded with a 14-2 run to take a 61-52 lead after a convention three-point play by Ledrick Eackles with 10:45 to play.  The game remained close and the Cardinals trailed 68-64 after another three-pointer by Hittle with 4:53 remaining.

It appeared the Cardinals were going to pull out another late victory, but the Cowboys went on a 12-3 run to put the game away.
The shot 39.1 percent from the field, made 9-of-25 from three-point range and went 13-of-18 from the foul line.  Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) led the team with 23 points and six rebounds, his ninth straight game with at least 20 points.  Barry contributed a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while making 7-of-9 from the field.  Hittle finished with 12 points on four three-pointers.  The Cardinals were missing starting center Ian Markolf (San Antonio/Churchill HS) who missed his second straight game with an injury.

The Cowboys received a brilliant performance from Eackles who poured in 31 points, grabbed six rebounds and had five assists.  Overall, the team shot 50 percent from the field, made 6-of-16 from long range and was 17-of-26 at the foul line.  Craig McFerrin added 16 points and eight rebounds while Kevin Hardy finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

The Cardinals had one more rebound than McNeese State and committed five more turnovers.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at Nicholls State for a 3 p.m. start.
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