LUBBOCK, Texas – Eight student-athletes scored for the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team as sophomores Keaston Willis (13 points) and Brandon Swaby (10 points) both led the Cardinals offensively. But a slow start and turnovers against the No. 13 team in the country proved to be the difference as Texas Tech (8-2, 1-1 Big 12) pulled away for a 79-51 win in Lubbock on Tuesday night.
Freshmen DakotaReber and Thomas Zevgaras each found the net for their first career points as Reber finished with three points and Zevgaras added four for the red and black.
"I was really happy for (Reber and Zevgaras) they practiced well and were prepared and ready to play tonight, and I am glad they were able to get involved," Cunningham said.
The Cardinals (1-4) were held to 23.8 percent (5-for-21) by the fourth-ranked scoring defense in their first 20 minutes of basketball since Dec. 5. Texas Tech methodically pushed out to a double-digit lead in the first ten minutes of the game until the score was 41-19 at the break.
Willis went 6-for-7 at the free throw line and added a bucket for eight points and Marcus Larsson pitched in with five points in the first half. The Red Raiders finished with a 22-point lead with ten different scorers and 45.9 percent (17-for-37) shooting.
UIW was able to find its rhythm. It shot 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from the field and connected on four from deep as Swaby knocked down a pair and Willis and Reber both converting a long-range shot. Zevgaras quickly made a presence when called on with 11 minutes remaining, blocking Micah Peavy's layup attempt and getting rewarded on the other end with his first points on a layup in back-to-back possessions.
Texas Tech led won the turnover margin (20-7) and spread the ball around with 17 assists.
The Red Raiders continually rotated their lineup to keep guys fresh and benefitted from 12 scorers with Marcus Santos-Silva and Kevin McCullar both scoring 11 points and Kyler Edwards adding ten points and a team-high eight rebounds.
COACH CUNNINGHAM SAID
"We executed in the second half, but you have to give Tech credit making things hard on us. They rotated well and made the right shots. In the second half, we were able to settle in, we did a real good job in the pick-and-roll and were able to get some good shots up. I am happy with the way we played in that half. We played with the right mindset and it is definitely something we can build from going into conference play."
LOOKING AHEAD
The Cardinals have a quick turnaround as they host McMurry in two games starting Thursday, Dec. 31, and Saturday, Jan. 1, in the final non-conference tune-up to ring in the 2021 calendar year. Both games set for a 1 PM tip. Home game spectator requirements can be found here.
UIW begins Southland Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 6, with a trip to Northwestern State, scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off.
FOLLOW ALONG
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