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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Something has to give Wednesday, when the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball hosts Northwestern State at 7 p.m. from the McDermott Center.
 
FIRST TIP
 
With both teams 0-14 in Southland Conference play this season, a team is going to earn their first conference victory Wednesday evening. The Cardinals and Demons are also tied in the all-time series, at 2-all. After dropping the first two meetings on the road in 2014 and 2015, UIW has been victorious the previous two meetings, both at home: 70-56 on Jan. 9, 2016, and 84-80 on Jan. 5, 2017.
 
At halftime of the game, the recently crowned 2018 CCSA Men's Swimming and Diving champions will be honored for their record-breaking performances over the weekend.
 
SCOUTING THE NORTHWESTERN STATE DEMONS
 
207-18: 3-22 overall, 0-14 SLC
Last Game: L 77-70 vs. HBU (2/14)
Head Coach: Mike McConathy
Key Players:
#20 Ishmael Lane – 25 GP, 13.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 54.5 FG%, 40.6 3PT%, 47 BLKS, 20 STLS
#1 Iziahiah Sweeney – 25 GP, 11.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 35 ASTS, 8 BLKS, 24 STLS
#42 Larry Owens – 25 GP, 6.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 48.0 FG%, 13 BLKS, 11 STLS
Summary: Another team on the same trajectory as the Cardinals, Northwestern State began the season 3-5, but losses to star player Jalan West and Devonte Hall due to injury has hindered the Demons. They are on a 17-game losing streak following a 77-70 home loss to HBU on Feb. 14.
 
Despite the struggles, Ishmael Lane ranks T-5th in the SLC with 7.4 rebounds per game and is 2nd with 1.9 blocked shots per contest. His 13.8 points per game places Lane 13th in scoring, while his 54.5 field-goal percentage ranks him 3rd overall. As a team, the Demons are last in scoring margin (-15.1) and 11th in rebounding (-2.7).
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2017-18: 5-19 overall, 0-14 SLC
Last Game: L 81-70 vs. Stephen F. Austin (2/17)
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister
Key Players:
#13 Charles Brown III – 22 GP, 13.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 49.5 FG%, 54.8 3PT%, 28 ASTS, 16 STLS
#41 Shawn Johnson – 24 GP, 11.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 38.0 3PT%, 45 ASTS, 37 BLKS, 38 STLS
#3 Simi Socks – 23 GP, 8.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9 BLKS, 9 ASTS, 7 STLS
Summary: UIW scored the first nine points in the second half and came as close as six, but visiting Stephen F. Austin pulled away and won, 81-70, Saturday afternoon from the McDermott Center. Shawn Johnson led all players with 23 points, the third time he's scored 20-plus points in the last four games. Sam Burmeister came off the bench to score a season-high 18 points, as he was 80 percent (4-for-5) from beyond the arc.
 
On the season, Charles Brown III ranks T-14th in scoring (13.7), while Johnson is 26th (11.9). Johnson is 6th in blocked shots per game (1.6), T-9th in steals (1.6), and T-10th in rebounding (6.3). He averages 2.2 three-point field goals per game, good for 8th-most in the conference. Christian Peevy ranks 3rd in the SLC with an 83.1 free throw percentage and is a big reason why the Cardinals lead the conference with a 73.4 percentage at the charity stripe. UIW is 2nd in blocks (5.13), 12th in scoring margin (-7.6), and last in rebounding margin (-4.3).
 
UP NEXT

UIW hits the road for the final time this season, at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals host HBU on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m., before hosting Abilene Christian on Senior Day, Saturday, Mar. 3 at 3 p.m.

To purchase tickets, contact UIW Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
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.