SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team had not played in the McDermott Center since December 4 and they wasted no time in getting reacquainted with their home court on Monday night against New Orleans in a 97-66 win.

The Cardinals (9-4, 1-2) came flying out of the gates against the Privateers (5-7, 1-2) making their first nine shots of the game and 16 of their first 19 from the field.  UIW led 35-15 after the first 10 and a half minutes of the game and never let UNO get closer than 19 points the rest of the game.  It was the first home game for the Cardinals since December 4 and was preceded by seven consecutive away games.

The Cardinals led 61-33 at halftime after shooting 71.9 percent from the field and making 7-of-11 from three-point range.  The 61 points were the most for the team in a half this year.
The second half was much more even, but the Cardinals still outscored the visitors by three points.  It seemed like UIW would reach triple digits for the fourth time this year, but the offense slowed in the final few minutes.  The 97 points moved UIW into second in the nation in scoring average with 85.1 points per game.

The Cardinals shot 61.4 percent from the field, the second time they have shot over 60 percent this season.  They went 12-of-25 from three-point range and were 15-of-22 from the foul line.  Junior Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) posted his first double-double of the season with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks while knocking down five three-pointers. Senior Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) was his usual brilliant self with 25 points, six assists and three steals while shooting 9-of-11 from the floor.  Freshman Jontrell Walker (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) was the third player on the team scoring at least 20 points with an even 20 on 6-of-8 shooting.

UIW had five players score in double figures in the contest.  Mitchell Badillo (Houston/Cy Falls HS) and Traylin Farris (Pearland/Manvel HS) each scored 10 points and Farris added five blocks.  Jerred Kite (San Antonio/Antonian HS) pulled down nine rebounds off the bench.  Overall, the team had 11 more rebounds than UNO and tied the school record with nine blocks.

The Privateers shot 39.3 percent from the field, made 3-of-8 from three-point range and were 19-of-29 at the charity stripe.  Tevin Boyles led the team with 13 points off the bench while Christavious Gill added 12 points.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at home against Southeastern Louisiana at 4 p.m.
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