SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team's offensive surge wasn't enough to lift the Cardinals over Lamar, falling 89-77 Wednesday night at the McDermott Center.
 
"That was a disappointing result," Cardinals coach Carson Cunningham said. "I need to do a better job of helping us get stops and take care of the rock. We're going to continue working hard at it. We have a young squad and it's tough to go through growing pains. We need to endure it and stay on the grind. Credit to Lamar. They asserted themselves effectively."
 
UIW drops to 4-14 (1-6 SLC) on the season, while Lamar improves to 10-10 (4-5 SLC).

NOTABLES 

• Freshman guard Drew Lutz set new career highs in points (25), 3-pointers made (5) and steals (4). He also dished out four assists and grabbed three rebounds. 
• Freshman guard Keaston Willis scored 24 points, knocking down a career-high six 3-pointers. 
• Sophomore guard Dwight Murray Jr. tallied a career high 21 points, finishing 8-9 from the free-throw line (also a career high) and dishing out four assists.
• The Cardinals' 12 made 3-pointers were the most in the Cunningham era and second-most in the school's Division I history.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
Both teams found a rhythm early on, but Lamar created some separation after a 10-2 run and held a 21-11 lead midway through the first half. UIW responded swiftly with a 13-0 scoring run powered by the dynamic guard trio of Murray Jr., Lutz and Willis. Lamar regained the lead on an and-one layup by Anderson Kopp and closed the half on a 25-10 run over the final seven minutes to take a 48-34 lead into the break.
 
SECOND HALF
Lamar controlled the first 10 minutes of the half, outscoring UIW 24-13 during that stretch. UIW clawed back thanks to the scoring burst from the same three guards who'd been giving the Lamar defense problems all night. UIW went on a 10-0 run with five minutes left in the game, but ran out of time as the Cardinals fell, 89-77.
 
UP NEXT
UIW will stay home for its next matchup against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the McDermott Center. 
 
STAY TUNED 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visituiwcardinals.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.