SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team rode a strong second half to a decisive 68-44 victory against the St. Francis (Illinois) Fighting Saints on Saturday at the McDermott Center. 
 
"The defensive effort in the second half was the difference in the game," Cardinals' coach Carson Cunningham said. "Awesome to see the fellas lock in like that. We also got some nice post feeds and post play throughout the game. That's something we need to keep building on. St. Francis is a well-run operation by Coach Marks. They deserve credit for their effort and execution today. Now it's time to rest and recover for our third in a row, this one at 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Eastern Illinois."

NOTABLES 

• Sophomore post Bryce Davis recorded a career-high 14 points on 6-7 shooting with three rebounds, a block and a steal
• Sophomore guard Dwight Murray Jr. scored 13 points (4-5 from the field, 5-5 from the free-throw line) with three rebounds and one assist
• Freshman forward Vincent Miszkiewicz made it three straight games with 10 or more rebounds, racking up 11 today to go along with six points, two assists, one steal and one block
• The Cardinals outscored the Saints 40-14 in the paint
• UIW converted 18-23 free throw attempts (78.3 percent)
• Eight different Cardinals recorded at least one steal, with junior forward Augustine Ene and freshman center Marcus Larsson grabbing two each

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
The Cardinals opened the game on an 8-0 scoring run, getting buckets from Miszkiewicz, freshman guard Drew Lutz and Davis. St. Francis countered with a 7-0 scoring run to come within one point and started to heat up from outside the arc, knocking down two of its seven first-half three pointers on its next two scoring possessions. Four different Cardinals scored on another 8-0 run to put UIW back in front, 20-15. Four of the Saints' next five field goals came from beyond the arc, however, and St. Francis took a 31-29 lead heading into halftime. 

SECOND HALF
Murray Jr. scored the first four points of the half for UIW, Davis scored the next four and Larrson scored the following four to push the Cardinals back in front of the Saints, 41-35. Ene hit a jump shot and a layup and freshman guard Keaston Willis sank two free-throws on a technical foul to complete an 18-4 run to open up the second half. Davis continued to provide reliable scoring in the paint, tallying two more field goals as UIW's lead continued to expand. The Cardinals closed the game on a remarkable 15-0 run to seal the 68-44 win. 

UP NEXT
UIW will take on Eastern Illinois in its third and final game of the UIW Invitational sponsored by Denny's at 2 p.m. (CT) on Sunday. 

STAY TUNED 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook. 
The UIW men's basketball team is on Twitter at @UIWMBB and Instagram at @uiwmensbasketball.