ABILENE, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team plays their final regular season road game on Thursday night at Abilene Christian University at 7 p.m.

The Cardinals (15-12, 10-6) have guaranteed themselves a winning record for the third straight season since joining Division I in 2013-14.  They are believed to be the only transitioning men's basketball program to accomplish that feat.  They are averaging 73.1 points per game this year while shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 76.0 percent from the foul line.

Reigning Southland Conference Player of the Week Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) leads the team with 15.6 points per game and 64 three-pointers.  He is second on the team with 5.9 rebounds per game, 60 assists and 31 steals.  Jontrell Walker (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) is the team's second-leading scorer at 12.2 points per game and he leads the nation in free throw shooting at 94.4 percent.  Derail Green (Houston/Klein Forest HS) and Mitchell Badillo (Houston/Cy Falls HS) are each averaging in double figures while Shawn Johnson (New Orleans, LA/Alief Hastings HS) leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats (13-16, 8-8) have been good at home this year with a 10-2 record, including 6-0 in conference play.  Freshman Jaylen Franklin leads the team with 16.3 points per game and is shooting 51.4 percent from the field.  Parker Wentz is scoring 8.9 points per game and is shooting 45.5 percent from three-point range.  Jaren Lewis is the team's top rebounder at 8.9 per game while Jalen Little had dished out 109 assists.

The Cardinals won the first meeting between the two teams, 74-60 on January 23.  Green led the way with 22 points while Hittle added 19 and Johnson posted a double-double.
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