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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball looks to get revenge on a New Orleans squad that narrowly defeated the Cardinals a week ago with a four-point win in the Big Easy. UIW and UNO meet for Round Two on Saturday, Jan. 27 with first tip scheduled for 2:05 p.m. from the McDermott Center. Talent will be David Saltzman and Candi Harvey. The game will be shown live on the Southland Digital Network with a tape delay national broadcast on Eleven Sports at 11 p.m. CT that evening.
 
FIRST TIP
 
Saturday's tilt will also be the team's annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers game, where the coaching staff will accompany their sneakers with gold shoe laces from the Lacey's Laces campaign (#LaceUpforLacey) to promote childhood cancers. To learn more about Princess Lacey, please visit http://bit.ly/2DSiqif. The foundation is in honor of Lacey Holsworth, an 8-year old Michigan State basketball fan who passed away from cancer in 2014. Tickets for the game will be at a discounted price of $5.
 
UIW still maintains a 3-2 series lead over New Orleans, but the Privateers have won the last two meetings, including the aforementioned 74-70 victory on Jan. 20 from Lakefront Arena. In the last meeting, Shawn Johnson scored a game-high 22 points, while Konstantin Kulikov posted career highs in points (14), rebounds (9), and blocks (3).
 
 
SCOUTING THE NEW ORLEANS PRIVATEERS
 
207-18: 10-10 overall, 7-2 SLC
Last Game: W 73-67 at Northwestern State (1/24)
Head Coach: Mark Slessinger
Key Players:
#25 Travin Thibodeaux – 20 GP, 16.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 55.8 FG%, 42.9 3PT%, 58 ASTS, 24 BLKS, 27 STLS
#4 Bryson Robinson – 20 GP, 8.8 PPG, 36.3 3PT%, 80.5 FT%, 60 ASTS, 14 STLS
#22 Makur Puou – 20 GP, 7.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 17 ASTS, 10 BLKS, 15 STLS
Summary: Reigning Southland Tournament champions, New Orleans, has had a streaky start to conference play, starting league play with three wins, lost two of the next three games, and are currently on a two-game winning streak following a 73-67 win at Northwestern State Wednesday.
 
Travin Thibodeaux leads the Southland Conference with a 55.8 field-goal percentage, however, if Diontae Champion fit the minimum standards of five field goals made a game, his 59.3 mark would lead the league, as he has gone 32-for-54 from the floor. Thibodeaux's 16.6 points per game ranks him T-6th in the SLC and his 6.0 rebounds per contest puts him 13th. As a team, the Privateers are 8th in the conference in scoring margin (-0.9) and 2nd in rebounding margin (+3.9).
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2017-18: 5-13 overall, 0-8 SLC
Last Game: L 102-86 at HBU (1/24)
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister
Key Players:
#13 Charles Brown III – 16 GP, 13.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 51.6 FG%, 82.5 FT%, 22 ASTS, 11 STLS
#4 Christian Peevy – 18 GP, 10.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 54.9 FG%, 82.2 FT%, 11 ASTS, 10 BLKS
#41 Shawn Johnson – 18 GP, 10.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 36.2 3PT%, 34 ASTS, 30 BLKS, 29 STLS
Summary: UIW could not get over the hump, dropping a 102-86 contest at HBU Wednesday night in Sharp Gym. Charles Brown III scored a team-best 22 points, the fourth time in the last six games he has scored 20-plus points. Cody Graham came off the bench to score 14 points and dish out a career-best six assists.
 
If Konstantin Kulikov played the minimum standards, the junior center would be second in the Southland Conference with a 55.9 field-goal percentage, as he is 19-for-34 from the floor, despite playing an average of 12 minutes a game. Shawn Johnson ranks 11th in rebounding (6.2), T-4th in blocking (1.7), and T-15th in steals (1.6). Brown III is 14th in the SLC with 13.8 points per game. He and Christian Peevy are 4th and 5th in the SLC in free-throw percentage, with 82.5 and 82.2, respectively, and are a big reason why the Cardinals lead the conference with a 73.1 free throw percentage. UIW also leads the conference with 5.28 blocked shots per game, 11th in scoring margin (-5.8), and 12th in rebounding margin (-3.6).
 
UP NEXT

UIW takes a week off before hosting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi next Saturday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals close their three-game home stand against Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.