LAKE CHARLES, La. -- The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team is back on the road for a matchup with one of the hottest-shooting teams in the league in McNeese at 6:30 p.m. (CT) Wednesday, January 15.
 
"We face two tough road tests this week, starting with McNeese State in Lake Charles, La.," Cardinals coach Carson Cunningham said. "The Cowboys feature a veteran-laden squad with strength and shooting. We're gonna have to be locked in. The fellas are working hard."
 
The Cardinals (4-11, 1-3 SLC) are looking to make it two in a row against the Cowboys (7-9, 2-3 SLC) who are fresh off an 85-76 victory over Northwestern State. 
 
TIPOFF COVERAGE
Live stream: Cowboy Insider
Live stats: SIDEARM
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Cardinals trail the Cowboys in head-to-head matchups, 1-5. 
 
NORWEGIAN NIGHTMARE 
In the Cardinals' most recent matchup against New Orleans, freshman center Marcus Larsson scored a career-high 19 points to go along with six rebounds, two assists and one block. 
 
LOTS OF LUTZ
Freshman guard Drew Lutz has been a dominant floor general over the last two games, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 assists and leading UIW to a 1-1 record. 
 
CAN'T STOP KEASTON
Freshman guard Keaston Willis has found his rhythm of late, scoring in double figures in 10 out of the last 12 contests. During that stretch, he's averaging 14.1 points per game and has drilled 33 triples. Willis's 36 made threes rank No. 6 in the SLC, and he's made at least one 3-pointer in each of the last nine games.
 
DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
Freshman forward Vincent Miszkiewicz is No. 5 in the SLC in rebounds per game (7.5) and No. 9 in blocked shots per game (0.9).
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

• The Cowboys enter Wednesday's matchup winners of two consecutive games, most recently taking down Northwestern State, 85-76, at home.
• McNeese has the No. 2 scoring offense in the conference, averaging 81.9 points per game. The Cowboys also boast the No. 1 field-goal percentage in the Southland, shooting at a 51.4 percent clip from the field.
• No team in the Southland shoots the ball more efficiently from beyond the arc than the Cowboys, who have not only made the most 3-pointers (145) but also have the highest 3-point percentage in the conference (42 percent).
• Redshirt junior guard A.J. Lawson was named last week's SLC Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 28.5 points and six rebounds per contest in a 2-0 week for the Cowboys. He scored a career-high 37 points in an 88-84 upset win over Abilene Christian on Wednesday, who entering into the game was undefeated in conference play.
• Sha'markus Kennedy has the second-highest field-goal percentage in the conference (67.1 percent) and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. 

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.