ABILENE, Texas – Freshman guard Keaton Hervey scored a team-best 17 points on 50 percent shooting, but the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball fell to Abilene Christian, 80-69, Saturday afternoon from Moody Coliseum.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Shawn Johnson's three-pointer was sandwiched between a pair of ACU (15-7 overall, 7-6 SLC) triples, as the Wildcats led 6-3 early. Trailing by four, UIW (5-17, 0-12 SLC) outscored the Wildcats, 6-0, to take a 10-8 lead, as Keaton Hervey hit the game-tying jumper and Charles Brown III's free throws gave UIW the lead with 13:24 left in the first half.

Tied at 10 with 13 minutes until halftime, ACU used a 10-0 run in a span of nearly four minutes to lead, 20-10. The run was highlighted by a Hayden Farquhar steal resulting in a Drake Green three-pointer to turn a two-point ACU lead to five.

After each team traded buckets and the hosts still leading by 10, UIW fought back and used a 7-1 run to cut the deficit to four (23-19) with 6:37 left in the half, culminated by a Jorden Kite three-pointer. Three straight turnovers resulting in four Wildcat points forced UIW to call a timeout trailing by 11 with five minutes to go. A pair of Christian Peevy free throws cut the deficit to single figures, but ACU closed the half doubling up the Cardinals, 14-7, in the final 4:35 to take a 44-28 lead into the break.

Devin Wyatt entered the ball game to start the second half and made his presence known, as he blocked a shot 17 seconds into the frame. Brown III forced a steal and scored, starting a 7-0 start to the second half for the Cardinals and forcing ACU to call an early timeout with the score 44-35 with 17:34 left in regulation.

ACU came out of the breather and scored the next nine points, forcing UIW to take its own timeout down 18 (53-35) with 14:25 remaining. Cody Graham hit a three-pointer on the Cardinals' next possession, but was quickly answered by a Jalone Friday triple to keep the deficit 18.

UIW battled back and came within 13 (62-49), but back-to-back three points from the Wildcats put them back up 19 with 6:42 remaining. UIW came no closer than 11 the rest of the game.

LEADERS

Hervey went 5-for-10 from the floor, 1-for-4 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-9 from the charity stripe for his 17 points in a team-best 36 minutes played. Brown III scored 13 points with a team-best five rebounds. Johnson scored six points early in the game, but was held scoreless the remainder of the contest.

Jaren Lewis led all players with 20 points and 17 rebounds for ACU. The Wildcats made nine 3-pointers in the game.

UP NEXT

UIW plays at Lamar on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. on ESPN3.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals return home to face Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. in the annual Military Appreciation Game.

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.