SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team scored the game's first 17 points and never looked back as the Cardinals defeated visiting McMurry, 88-49, Friday evening from the McDermott Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
UIW (3-0) went 7-for-12 in the first five minutes to jump out to the 17-0 lead before McMurry's Zacc Carter scored a layup to end the drought at the 14:06 mark. Shawn Johnson's trey increased the Cardinal lead to 20, 24-4.
 
The War Hawks scored back-to-back jumpers to cut the deficit to 15, but UIW used a 9-0 run to increase the lead back up to 24, 39-15, thanks to solid defense from Johnson and Augustine Ene. UIW led by as many as 31 and it looked like McMurry hit a shot before the buzzer, but officials reviewed and waived the shot off.
 
UIW shot a staggering 60 percent (21-for-35) in the first half, compared to 30 percent (9-for-30) for the War Hawks. UIW forced 14 turnovers, resulting in 14 points.
 
A Cody Graham layup at the 15:09 mark of the second half put the Cardinals ahead by 40, 62-22. McMurry battled back and cut the deficit to 31, highlighted by three triples in the run – two by Darius Watts – but UIW closed the game outscoring McMurry, 18-10.
 
LEADERS
 
UIW was led in scoring by both Charles Brown III and Johnson with 19 points apiece. Johnson was particularly hot on the floor, as he shot 70 percent and went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. He nearly missed his first double-double of the season, grabbing a game-high eight rebounds, and led all players with four steals. Christian Peevy came off the bench to score 15 points, going 6-for-7 from the floor and making all three free throw attempts. He registered a career-high three blocked shots. Ene scored a career-high 11 points to also finish in double figures, as he went 5-for-5 from the floor. As a team, the Cardinals shot a season-best 52 percent from the floor. The last time UIW scored 50 or more points in one half was when the Cardinals scored 50 second-half points at Stephen F. Austin last season.
 
McMurry, playing tonight's game as an exhibition, was led in scoring by Carter, with 10 points coming off the bench. The leading rebounder was LaRandall Scroggins with five. The War Hawks were held to 28 percent shooting on the night.
 
UP NEXT

The Cardinals conclude their home stand against Loyola Marymount next Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. Last season, UIW lost a heartbreaker in Los Angeles, 91-90 in overtime to the Lions.

STAY TUNED

UIW hits the road for the first time this season, facing Houston on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. before taking on No. 17 Gonzaga on Nov. 29.

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