San Antonio, Texas – In a game that featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes, UIW men's basketball returned to their winning ways following a hard-fought 82-77 win over HBU Saturday afternoon from the McDermott Convocation Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
There were four ties in the first five minutes of the contest before UIW (7-10 overall, 2-4 SLC) scored seven of the next nine points to take a 15-10 lead, highlighted by a three-point play by Shawn Johnson. HBU (7-9 overall, 3-3 SLC) stormed back on a 12-2 run, as Jalon Gates hit two 3-pointers in the run for the Huskies.
 
Tied 30-all with 2:29 left in the first half, the Cardinals outscored HBU, 7-2, to take a five-point lead, 37-32, with 1:25 remaining, but HBU closed the half scoring four straight for a one-point UIW advantage at the break, 37-36.
 
HBU came out firing to start the second half, as Alex Fountain hit three triples in the first five minutes to give the Huskies a 51-43 lead. The Cardinals answered with a Sam Burmeister trey and the Cardinals eventually found themselves even with HBU, 60-all with 7:48 left in regulation.
 
There would be four more ties in the next four minutes before back-to-back triples by Jorden Kite and Simi Socks turned a two-point HBU lead to a four-point UIW advantage with 1:48 remaining. Asa Cantwell nailed a three-pointer to put HBU within one, 76-75, with 1:26 left, but Jalin Hart forced a steal and UIW went 4-for-5 at the line to seal the win.
 
LEADERS
 
Hart (23) and Socks (22) combined for 45 of UIW's 82 points, as Hart also dished out a game-high five assists. Tyler Singleton added 13 points and had a game-high three steals. Coming off the bench, Kite scored 10 points in nine minutes. As a team, UIW shot 48 percent from the floor in the game, 55 percent in the second half.
 
Reigning SLC Player of the Week, Josh Ibarra, registered a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead HBU. Fountain scored 16, all coming in the second half, while Reveal Chukwujekwu added 12. UIW held HBU's leading scorer, Colter Lasher, to just five points and two rebounds in just 17 minutes as the senior fouled out. The Huskies shot 44 percent in the game.
 
QUOTES
 
Assistant coach John Smith on the win
"Let me give some love to Jorden Kite. You talk about being a professional and staying ready. His minutes were limited – he scored 10 points in nine minutes. He played phenomenal, his shots gave us some momentum. Our guys had some perseverance and came through down the stretch. It was a great game."
 
On Simi Socks' work against HBU's Colter Lasher
"Simi as a freshman and Simi as a sophomore are two different stories. This year, he's picking and choosing his spots. Getting Lasher to have three fouls early is key, because Lasher is a player. Simi had the gall to go after him early and then he had a clutch three-pointer at the top of the key late in the game."
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW takes on three-time defending Southland Conference Tournament champion, Stephen F. Austin, next Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN3.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals close their three-game home stand against Abilene Christian on Thursday, Jan. 26. The game will be the annual Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.