NATCHITOCHES, La. – Four Cardinals scored in double-figures Wednesday night against Northwestern State, but the University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team couldn't pull out the victory as the Demons escaped with the 70-60 win. 
 
"Tough road loss against a quality team," Cardinals coach Carson Cunningham said. "We played fantastic defense in the first half but coughed the ball up too often and struggled with shooting, even at the line, which has been a particular bright spot of late. Northwestern State deserves credit for making things difficult. We need to learn from it and get ready for New Orleans. They're all battles."
 
NOTABLES 

• Des Balentine scored 14 points to go along with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals as he continued his hot streak over the last couple of weeks. The redshirt junior has now scored in double-figures in five consecutive games and recorded at least five rebounds in three out of the last four matchups.
• Keaston Willis added 13 points to go along with two rebounds, three assists and a steal. Wednesday marked the 16th time the freshman guard has scored in double-digits, a team best.
• Augustine Ene and Dwight Murray Jr. combined for 21 points, four made 3-pointers, two rebounds and two steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
Freshman guard Brandon Swaby initiated the scoring for the Cardinals with a jumper from beyond the arc and Drew Lutz followed with a mid-range bucket to put UIW up 5-0 two minutes into the game. The Demons retaliated with a 9-2 run midway through the half to take a 19-14 lead, but the Cardinals countered with a 10-2 run to take a 24-21 lead with two and a half minutes left in the period. NSU closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 27-24 lead into the break.
 
SECOND HALF
The Demons put together an 8-0 run over the first two minutes of the second half to increase their lead to 11. Both teams traded baskets on the next five scoring possessions, but UIW reduced its deficit to seven after four consecutive free throws from Swaby and Murray Jr. Later, Ene connected on a pair of 3-pointers in a 30-second span, but the Cardinals couldn't get a stop on defense to capitalize on the junior's scoring surge. A 3-pointer from Lutz brought UIW to within six, but NSU fought back with an 8-2 with just under three minutes to play to stall the Cardinal comeback effort. Balentine scored UIW's next six points on a couple of jump-shots and a pair of free throws, but NSU managed to hold on for the 70-60 win. 
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will stay in Louisiana for their next matchup against New Orleans at 6 p.m. (CT) Saturday, Feb. 15. 
 
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.