SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team fell in overtime to Abilene Christian on Saturday, 71-68, to conclude the 2019-20 season. 

"It was awesome to see the fight in the fellas," Cardinals coach Carson Cunningham said. "They played with real grit and determination and represented their school well. Credit to Abilene Christian for finding a way to pull it out. Our Cardinals improved our Southland win total by five games and that's a huge step. This one stings, but we're eager to get after it this offseason and keep fighting."

NOTABLES 

• Five Cardinals scored in double-figures in one of the most well-rounded games the team played all season. UIW shot 45 percent from the floor and 85 percent from the free-throw line. 

• Freshman guard Drew Lutz had a game-high 16 points with two assists and two threes.

• Freshman guard Keaston Willis put up 15 points with three rebounds, a block, an assist and a steal in a career-high 44 minutes of action.

• Freshman center Marcus Larsson tied his career high in rebounds with nine, also adding 10 points, an assist and a block. 

• Sophomore guard Dwight Murray Jr. scored 12 points with two rebounds and an assist.

• Redshirt junior Des Balentine finished with 10 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

Both teams got off to a slow start on offense, with only four field goals between the two teams leading up to the first media timeout. The Cardinals held a five-point advantage before the Wildcats strung together a 14-2 run to take a 21-14 lead with under five minutes left in the half. Behind a balanced attack that featured baskets from Bryce Davis, Murray Jr., Balentine and WIllis, UIW closed the half on a 13-1 run to take a 27-22 lead heading into halftime. 

SECOND HALF

UIW and ACU alternated buckets for the first four minutes of the second half as the Cardinals maintained their lead, 33-29 with just over 15 minutes left in the game. The Wildcats sparked a 9-2 run to regain the lead, 47-43. Jumpers from Lutz and Murray Jr. brought the Cardinals back in front after an 11-3 run with under six minutes to play. ACU hit a layup with half a minute remaining, but Lutz responded with a jumper with 15 seconds to tie the game and send it into overtime. 

OVERTIME

The Cardinals got exactly what they wanted to start the extra period with a three from Balentine and a two-handed dunk from Larsson. The 6'10 freshman sank a pair of free throws to extend UIW's lead to 68-65 with two minutes remaining, but the Wildcats drew a foul from the 3-point line and converted all three shots to tie the game. With 30 seconds left, ACU hit a 3-pointer that ultimately proved to be the game winner as the Cardinals couldn't convert on the other end, falling 71-68.

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.