NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team starts a difficult stretch of the season on Monday night at 7 p.m. when they travel to Southland Conference leader Stephen F. Austin. An expected sell-out crowd is expected at the William R. Johnson Coliseum and the game will also be shown on ESPN3.
The Cardinals (13-9, 8-3) moved into third place in the conference after their 71-69 win over Central Arkansas on Friday. Five of the team's final seven regular games will come against teams currently in the top four in the conference.
The 'Jacks (18-5, 11-0) have won their last 26 games at home, the fourth longest streak currently alive in Division I. They have not lost a home conference game since suffering a 51-47 loss to former Southland member UT-Arlington on Feb. 15, 2012. Two years ago, the Cardinals nearly upset the 'Jacks in Nacogdoches, but they lost 76-74.
UIW enters the game averaging 73.4 points per game and allowing 71.1 points per game. They are shooting 42.5 percent from the field and are one of the top free throw shooting teams in the nation at 75.7 percent. They boast four players averaging in double figures led by senior
Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) who had 24 against Central Arkansas and averages 15.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He became the second player in school history to reach 200 career three-pointers against UCA.
The Cardinals have three players shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range;
Derail Green (Houston/Klein Forest HS),
Mitchell Badillo (Houston/Cy Falls HS) and
Shawn Johnson (New Orleans, LA/Alief Hastings HS). Hittle leads the team with 48 made three-pointers and
Jontrell Walker (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) has made 36.
The 'Jacks are averaging over 78 points per game and giving up 65 points per game. Last season's Southland Conference Player of the Year, Thomas Walkup, leads the team with 17.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Demetrious Floyd chips in with 13.3 points per game and has made 66 three-pointers this year. Clide Geffrard is the other double-digit scorer at 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
The Cardinals are 0-3 all-time against Stephen F. Austin.
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