SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team will take on three teams this weekend at the UIW Invitational sponsored by Dennys, rounding out the team's five-game home stretch before traveling to the Pacific Northwest in December.
The multi-team event features matchups against Bethune-Cookman on Friday at noon (CT), St. Francis (Illinois) on Saturday at 10 a.m. and Eastern Illinois on Sunday at 2 p.m.
"This will be a fun and competitive event," Cardinals coach Carson Cunningham said. "It's really neat to be able to welcome these three teams to our beautiful campus and wonderful city. Each team will play three games over three days, a great test. We invite Incarnate Word fans to come out and support their squad. The fellas have been working hard in preparation."
TIPOFF COVERAGE
Live stream: Cardinals Sports Network
Talent: Scott Mandziara and Angelo Mitchell
Live Stats: Sidearm
SERIES HISTORY
- vs. Bethune Cookman, 0-0
- vs. St. Francis (Ill.), 1-1
- vs. Eastern Illinois, 0-0
KEAS TO THE GAME
Freshman guard
Keaston Willis had a career night against SIUE, scoring a season-high 14 points and hitting four three-pointers. He also pulled down three rebounds and dished out one assist.
MISZING ALL THE FUN
Freshman forward
Vincent Miszkiewicz notched his first career double-double against the Cougars, scoring 12 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. He also swatted a career-high four shots to go along with two steals.
LUTZ OF ASSISTS
Freshman guard
Drew Lutz leads the team in scoring (12.3 ppg), but he took the role of distributor against SIUE on Saturday, dishing out a career-best five assists while adding eight points - all of which he scored in the second half.
THREE AND D
The Cardinals had their best three-point shooting night of the season against SIUE, knocking down nine triples in the 57-55 loss. UIW also held SIUE to just 27.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
- Bethune-Cookman is 2-2 on the season, coming off a 100-43 victory against Trinity Baptist.
- The Wildcats are led by freshman guard Joe French, who is averaging 16 points per game with 14 made threes on the season (58.3 percent).
- Senior forward Cletrell Pope is averaging a double-double with 12 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.
- St. Francis-Ill. is 3-2 on the season, fresh off an 85-78 overtime loss to St. Ambrose.
- The Saints went 20-15 last year and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
- The Saints have four players averaging double figures in points per game.
- Eastern Illinois is 2-2 this year, most recently defeating Indiana Northwest 114-61.
- The Panthers have won two consecutive games, scoring an average of 106 points per game in those contests.
- The Panthers have five players averaging double figures in points per game.
STAY TUNED
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics.
The UIW men's basketball team is on Twitter at @UIWMBB and Instagram at @uiwmensbasketball.
