SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team received a 23-point performance from freshman point guard Morgan Taylor, and the Cardinals' defense held off several determined Texas Lutheran runs in the second half as UIW prevailed in a 70-59 game on Monday night at the McDermott Center.

SUPERLATIVES

• Freshmen scored 51 of UIW's 70 points.
• In addition to Taylor's 23, freshman Antoine Smith Jr. scored 12. Veterans Charles Brown III and Augustine Ene contributed nine and seven, respectively.
• This was UIW's third straight win.
• UIW is 3-1 on the season. Texas Lutheran dropped to 0-2. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half:

• For the third consecutive game, UIW Head Coach Carson Cunningham started a lineup composed of four freshmen: Smith, Taylor, Romello Wilbert and Bryce Davis. Sophomore Cody Graham also started.
• The Cardinals jumped out to a 7-0 lead thanks to buckets by Davis and Smith, but TLU scored the next eight points.
• For the next seven minutes, the lead changed hands seven times and the score was tied on four occasions.
• Then, UIW began gradually increasing its lead, reaching a nine-point margin with 1:04 remaining before halftime.
• The Cardinals led 32-25 at the break.
• Smith and Taylor led all UIW scorers with 10 and nine points, respectively. 

Second Half:

• Texas Lutheran cut the Cardinals' lead in half during the first minute of play, but scoring by Taylor and Davis reestablished the Cardinals' eight-point margin by the 17:20 mark.
• UIW increased its lead to ten, the largest of the game at that point, when Taylor hit a three-pointer with 11:50 on the clock.
• TLU cut the Cardinal lead to four on two occasions, but two free throws by Taylor and a layup by Brown once again reestablished the eight-point lead.
• With seven minutes left, TLU cut the Cardinal lead to three.
• A three-point play by Brown opened a seven-point lead for the Cardinals. A fast-break layup by Augustine Ene then established a margin of nine with 3:40 remaining in the game.
• The first of two free throws broke the 20-point barrier for Taylor, giving UIW a nine-point lead with 1:23 remaining before UIW closed out the victory. 

COACH CUNNINGHAM SAID
"Texas Lutheran is a tough outfit to defend. They run good stuff, are coached well, and play hard. For our guys, many of them freshmen, to hold three straight teams to under 60 points is quite encouraging. On to the next battle!"
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals play in the eight-team Islands of the Bahamas Tournament beginning Friday in Nassau. Tipoff is set for 10 a.m. (CT) against defending Big Sky champion Montana. UIW will play three games during the weekend tournament.
 
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