WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – The University of Incarnate Word men's basketball team hits the road for the first time this season as they travel #21/#23 Purdue University with tip off scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Mackey Arena.
         
The Cardinals (2-0) started the season with back to back victories at home against Texas Lutheran and Schreiner, but they face their first test of the season against one of the top teams in the nation.
         
So far this season, UIW is averaging 79.9 points per contest and the team is shooting 42.7 percent from the field while going 12-of-44 from downtown.  One point of emphasis for the team will be rebounding.  So far, the Cardinals are averaging 40 rebounds per game while their opponents are averaging 41.5 per game. Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) currently leads the team in scoring at 14.0 points per contest and all of the UIW starters are averaging at least 10.0 points a game. Jontrell Walker (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) and Derail Green (Houston/Klein Forest HS) both average 11.5 points a game and Green leads the team in field goal percentage shooting 52.9 percent from the field.
         
Purdue will be concluding a season opening three game home stand against UIW and they have started the season 2-0 after defeating North Carolina A&T, 81-40 and Vermont, 107-79.  Dating back to last year, the Boilermakers have won eight straight home games at Mackey Arena which includes three versus ranked opponents.

As a team, Purdue is averaging 94.0 points per contest while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.  The Boilermakers are averaging 41.0 rebounds a game to go along with 22.5 assist per game.  Isaac Haas leads the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game and the team has six players that score in double digits.  Caleb Swanigan is averaging 12.5 points per game to go along with 12.0 rebounds.  Ryan Cline is coming off the bench for Purdue and is giving the team a spark with 11.0 points off the bench.

One matchup to watch in the contest will be how the Cardinals defend the Purdue big men.  The Boilermakers average height is 6-6 and they five players 6-8 or taller.  Purdue's frontline of Haas, Swanigan, and Edwards is averaging 39.0 points per game and the trio is accounting for 22.5 rebounds per contest.  The Cardinals frontline of Green, Hittle, and Sam Burmeister (San Antonio/Churchill HS) is averaging 36.5 points to go along with 16 rebounds per game.
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