Live Video/Audio  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes  |  Digital Program

SAN ANTONIO Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team looks to end the season on a three-game winning streak and play spoiler when the Cardinals host rival Abilene Christian Saturday at 3 p.m., or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game, which tips off at 1 p.m.
 
FIRST TIP
 
ACU is one of three teams battling for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Southland Conference Tournament. A Cardinals win would hinder the Wildcats' chances greatly of making the tournament.
 
UIW leads the all-time series, 12-4. ACU snapped an eight-game Cardinal winning streak earlier this month, 80-69, in Abilene.

Prior to Saturday's contest, UIW's five seniors will be recognized: Sam Burmeister, Marek Hulva, Shawn Johnson, Simi Socks, and Devin Wyatt.
 
 
SCOUTING THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS
 
207-18: 15-10 overall, 7-10 SLC
Last Game: L 76-56 at Stephen F. Austin (2/28)
Head Coach: Joe Golding
Key Players:
#1 Jaren Lewis – 30 GP, 13.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 56.9 FG%, 79.5 FT%, 57 ASTS, 29 BLKS, 46 STLS
#21 Jalone Friday – 30 GP, 13.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 35.6 3PT%, 45 BLKS, 16 ASTS, 9 STLS
#0 Jaylen Franklin – 30 GP, 10.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 56.3 FG%, 136 ASTS, 57 STLS, 8 BLKS
Summary: Despite being on a four-game losing streak, Abilene Christian is in the hunt for the final playoff spot, tied with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and McNeese. TAMUCC plays at HBU Saturday at 7 p.m., while the Cowboys host Lamar at 3:30 p.m. B.J. Maxwell scored a team-high 13 points in ACU's 76-56 loss at Stephen F. Austin Wednesday night.
 
Jalone Friday and Jaren Lewis share 17th in the conference with 13.3 points per game. Lewis' 7.7 rebounds per game rank him 4th. The Wildcats have two players in the Top 10 in assists: Jaylen Franklin (4th, 4.6 apg) and Tevin Foster (9th, 3.5 apg). Friday is tied with UIW's Johnson with 1.5 blocks per game, while Franklin's 1.9 steals per game puts him in a share for 4th. As a team, ACU is 6th in scoring margin (+2.7) and 10th in rebounding margin (-0.5).
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2017-18: 7-20 overall, 2-15 SLC
Last Game: W 83-71 vs. HBU (2/28)
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister
Key Players:
#13 Charles Brown III – 25 GP, 13.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 80.2 FT%, 21 ASTS, 23 STLS, 6 BLKS
#41 Shawn Johnson – 27 GP, 12.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 36.5 3PT%, 52 ASTS, 41 BLKS, 40 STLS
#3 Simi Socks – 24 GP, 8.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 79.5 FT%, 10 ASTS, 9 BLKS, 7 STLS
Summary: After losing 17 straight from Dec.19-Feb. 21, UIW is on a two-game winning streak following an 83-71 victory over HBU Wednesday night from the McDermott Center. It was the Cardinals' first win this season when behind at halftime (trailed HBU, 41-37). Shawn Johnson led all Cardinals with 28 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, and three blocked shots. The 17 boards were the most by a Cardinal not named Shawn Johnson since Chris Johnson grabbed 14 at St. Edward's on Nov. 26, 2011. Shawn's previous career high was 15, set three times, with the most recent coming against Sam Houston State on Feb. 8, 2017.
 
On the season, Charles Brown III ranks 15th in the Southland Conference with 13.6 points per game, while Johnson is T-22nd with Abilene Christian's Tevin Foster with 12.2 points per contest. Johnson is T-5th with 1.5 blocks per game, T-14th with 1.5 steals per game, and 8th with 6.7 rebounds per game. Christian Peevy went 1-for-2 at the free throw line against HBU, but remains 3rd in the SLC with an 83.1 percentage. As a team, the Cardinals lead the conference with a 74.1 free throw percentage, is 2nd with 4.96 blocks per game, 11th in scoring margin (-6.5), and last in rebounding (-3.5).
 
UP NEXT

All-Southland Conference teams will be announced following the conclusion of the regular season.


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.