SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Trailing by one with 8:28 left in regulation, visiting New Orleans used a back-breaking 10-0 run in a three-minute span and went on to defeat the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball, 68-58, Saturday afternoon from the McDermott Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
UIW (5-14 overall, 0-9 SLC) spotted New Orleans (11-10, 8-2) an early 6-3 lead before the Cardinals scored six unanswered to take a 9-6 lead three minutes into the contest, culminated by a three-point play from Charles Brown III.
 
Tied 15-all at the midway point of the first half, UNO used a 14-6 run to take an eight-point lead with under three minutes to go, forcing the Cardinals to call a timeout after a dunk from Michael Zeno.
 
The breather did wonders, as UIW closed the half outscoring the Privateers, 6-0, to trail by two at the break, 29-27.
 
The second half saw two ties in the first 1:39, as consecutive baskets from Sam Burmeister evened the Cardinals with the Privateers.
 
Shawn Johnson thought he hit a three-pointer to increase the Cardinal lead to four at the 14:40 mark of the second half, but replays showed he was millimeters after the shot clock buzzer went off. UNO took advantage and Bryson Robinson hit a three-pointer to give the visitors a 37-35 lead; a six-point swing and a key moment in the ball game.
 
UNO used that change in momentum to score four more points to take a six-point lead (41-35) with 12:09 remaining, but UIW battled back. After a Cody Graham layup, Jorden Kite's triple at the top of the key pulled the Cardinals within one, 41-40. UIW eventually tied the contest at 44-all and took a one-point lead following a pair of Kite free throws. Unfortunately, it would be the last lead for the Cardinals the remaining 8:28 of the game, as UNO used a back-breaking 10-0 run in the next three minutes for a 54-45 advantage.
 
LEADERS

Graham led UIW with 11 points on 50 percent shooting (5-for-10), to go along with three rebounds and three assists. Burmeister scored 10 points on 80 percent shooting (4-for-5). Konstantin Kulikov was quiet in the first half, but scored four of his six points and had seven of his game-high 11 rebounds in the second. Johnson finished with nine points, six rebounds, and four blocked shots. His four swats all came in the first half.
 
Makur Puou came off the bench to tie his career high of 18 points to lead UNO, while leading scorer, Travin Thibodeaux, scored 14.
 
Two key stats from the game: points off turnovers (23-5 in favor of UNO) and bench points (37-14, UNO).
 
UP NEXT

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