CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team travels to the gulf coast looking to keep its postseason hopes alive against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 5:30 p.m. (CT) Saturday.

The Cardinals are just two games back from McNeese for the final spot in the Southland Conference tournament. 

TIPOFF COVERAGE
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SERIES HISTORY
UIW (9-19, 6-11 SLC) trails TAMU-CC (11-17, 7-10 SLC) in head-to-head matchups, 4-7.

MONEY MURRAY
In Wednesday's matchup against Lamar, sophomore guard Dwight Murray Jr. set a new career high for points with 23, going 9-14 from the field and 2-2 from beyond the arc. He also tallied four rebounds and three assists.

BALENTINE'S BEST
Junior guard Des Balentine has been on a tear over the past month, scoring in double figures in six out of the last nine games, including a 15-point, four-assist performance Wednesday at Lamar.

MENACING MISZKIEWICZ
Freshman forward Vincent Miszkiewicz is currently No. 8 in both rebounds per game (7.4) and blocks per game (1.1). 

THREES EVERYWHERE
Freshmen guards Keaston Willis and Drew Lutz have combined to hit 20 3-pointers over the last three games. The Cardinals have gone 2-2 in those matchups. 

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

• TAMU-CC is 11-17 on the season and 7-10 in Southland Conference play. The Islanders have lost three of their last four, but against some of the toughest opponents in the league in SFA, ACU and Lamar. 
• The Islanders are fighting with McNeese and UIW for the last spot in the SLC tournament, one game behind the Cowboys and one game in front of the Cardinals.
• TAMU-CC has struggled offensively this season, averaging an SLC-low 64.8 points per game. 
• Defensively, the Islanders are in much better shape, allowing the third-fewest points per game in the league (68.3). They're also holding opponents to 42.5 percent shooting from the floor, which ranks No. 4 in the SLC. 
• Despite their struggles scoring the ball, the Islanders are dangerous from beyond the arc. Their 37.5 percent 3-point percentage ranks No. 2 in the conference. 
• Myles Smith and Jordan Hairston are the top-two scoring options for the Islanders, averaging 13.2 and 12.6 points per game, respectively.

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.