Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Playing in front of their largest home crowd of the year, the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team gave the fans something to cheer about in a 78-72 Southland Conference victory over Lamar University on Saturday night at the McDermott Center.
On a night when the first 400 UIW students received t-shirts with senior
Denzel Livingston's (Houston/Waltrip HS) #11 on them, Livingston had one of his best all-around games of the season with 22 points, nine rebounds, six assists, five steals and two blocks. Freshman
Traylin Farris (Pearland/Manvel HS) was no slouch either on the inside with a season high 20 points, including a pair of thunderous dunks, and six rebounds.
The Cardinals (13-6, 5-4) have struggled to finish out games in recent weeks, but they played their best down the stretch against the Lamar Cardinals (11-12, 5-6). The visitors led for less than three minutes in the game, but led 69-66 with 4:52 remaining after a jumper by Donovan Ross. Farris and
Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) scored on back-to-back layups for UIW to reclaim the lead, but Tyran de Lattibeaudiere's follow up dunk pushed Lamar back on top by one with 3:49 remaining.
UIW did not score on their next possession, but Hittle picked up a crucial steal that led to a fast break dunk by Livingston with 3:19 to play. Livingston knocked down two free throws on the team's next possession and then
Jontrell Walker (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) scored on a tough layup in the lane to make it a 5-point game. Hittle took a charge on the next defensive possession and then scored on a layup to clinch the game with under a minute remaining.
UIW shot 50.9 percent from the field, made 5-of-15 from three-point range and were 15-of-22 at the foul line. Livingston just missed his fourth double-double of the season. Farris was 7-of-11 from the field and blocked a pair of shots. Hittle finished with 17 points and five rebounds while Walker tallied 11 points. The team committed eight turnovers and forced 13 while outscoring Lamar, 22-10 on points off turnovers.
Lamar shot 52.6 percent from the field, made 4-of-15 from three-point range and was 8-for-11 at the foul line. De Lattibeaudiere had 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks to lead the team. Anthony Holliday scored 15 points and Dontavious Sears had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
UIW is back in action on Tuesday for Military Appreciation Night at home against Nicholls at 7 p.m.
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