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San Antonio, Texas. – Following a season-long five-game road swing, the UIW men's basketball team welcomes Northwestern State to the McDermott Convocation Center on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Southland Conference home opener for the Cardinals. Fans are encouraged to wear red to the game in a "Red Out."
OPENING TIP
UIW is 2-1 in SLC home openers, with the lone defeat coming by the hands of Sam Houston State last season. The Cardinals trail the all-time series with Northwestern State, 2-1, but defeated the Demons last season at the Convo, 70-56.
SCOUTING THE DEMONS
2016-17 Record: 6-6
2016-17 SLC Record: 0-1
Last Game: L 79-72 vs. McNeese (12/31)
Head Coach: Mike McConathy (18th season)
Key Players:
#20 Ishmael Lane – 9.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 10 blks
#2 Josh Boyd – 9.3 ppg, 20 asts, 40.9 3-Pt%
#21 Sabri Thompson – 9.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 18 asts, 33.3 3-Pt%
Summary: Northwestern State dropped its conference opener last Saturday against McNeese, 79-72, despite 26 points from Josh Boyd. The Demons were without leading scorer and SLC Preseason First Team member, Zeek Woodley, who was injured in the Demons' game against Rice on Dec. 19.
On the season, Woodley is fifth in the SLC with 17.6 points per game, as he is shooting 50.8 percent from the floor, 41.9 from beyond the arc, and 82.4 from the charity stripe. Ishmael Lane leads the team with 10 blocked shots and is second with 9.5 points per game. His 6.2 rebounds per game are just short of leader Tra'von Joseph's 6.3. As a team, the Demons are shooting 42 percent from the floor (73.7 points per game) while the opposition is shooting 47 percent from the floor (77.0 points per game).
THE CARDINAL FILE
2016-17 Record: 5-8
Last Game: L 74-63 at Southeastern Louisiana (1/2)
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister (11th season)
Key Players:
#41
Shawn Johnson – 16.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 26 asts, 17 blks
#3
Simi Socks – 14.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 83.3 FT%
#1
Jalin Hart – 14.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 58 asts, 25 stls
Summary: UIW went 0-5 in its season-long road swing and is hoping a return to the Convo Center will provide the Cardinals the spark to get back on the winning side. The Cardinals dropped to 0-2 in the young conference season following a 74-63 defeat at Southeastern Louisiana on Monday, as
Jalin Hart led the way offensively with 14 points.
On the season,
Shawn Johnson leads four Cardinals in double figures with 16.8 points per game, good for seventh in the Southland Conference. His 7.9 rebounds per contest also lead the Cardinals and places him fourth in the SLC, while he is second in the conference with a 47.3 three-point percentage.
Simi Socks (14.3), Hart (14.2), and
Tyler Singleton (10.5) follow Johnson on the offensive end. Hart's 58 assists (4.5 per game) rank him fourth in the SLC, while his 25 steals (1.9 per game) places him sixth in the SLC.
Devin Wyatt is second in the SLC and 20th nationally with 2.6 blocked shots per game. As a team, UIW is shooting 45 percent from the floor (77.5 points per game), while the opposition is also shooting 45 percent from the floor (80.7 points per game).
UP NEXT
UIW hosts New Orleans on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m.
STAY TUNED
The Cardinals play at Lamar on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on Spectrum Sports Texas, Channel 323 in San Antonio. Outside of the Alamo City, the game will be streamed live on ESPN3.
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.
