Box Score SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team battled to the last second with visiting Northwestern State, but a late nine-point deficit with four minutes on the clock was too much to overcome as the Cardinals fell, 68-67, on Wednesday night inside the McDermott Center. 
 
Sophomore Keaston Willis produced his eighth 20-point game of the season to keep the Cardinals in the Southland Conference slugfest. Brandon Swaby added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists and came up with two huge steals late in the game to pull back the momentum. 

UIW (8-9, 5-5 SLC) shot 52.9% from the field (27-for-51) for the game but converted on just 2-of-3 from 3-point range in the second half as NSU forced the Cardinals to play in the paint.
 
The Cardinals and Demons played as close as they could through the first half. UIW pulled out to an early 10-2 lead before NSU stormed back to tie the game at 15-15 with 13:40 to play. The Cardinals and Demons continued to battle through four lead changes and three ties before Josh Morgan gave a full-court heave to Brandon Swaby for the layup and the lead, 35-34, to end the half. 
Willis led the Cardinals with 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting and 3-for-5 from deep. Logan Bracamonte added eight points for the black and red that shot 48.3% (14-for-29) for the half. 

UIW and NSU continued to go shot-for-shot through the second half as neither team pulled out to more than a six-point lead until the sixth minute. The Demon's Jamaure Gregg sunk two free throws, Kendall Coleman hit a layup and Brian White hit a jumper to give NSU the late momentum it needed with a 62-56 advantage. 
 
The Cardinals fought back to a one-possession game with the score, 65-57, after a half court hustle-play by Swaby to steal and score with 1:22 on the clock.  

The red and black had one more chance as Swaby's half-court heave went wide left as the buzzer sounded. 

NSU (6-14, 5-4 SLC) continued its four-game win streak with four Demons in double-figures. Jamaure Gregg scored 15, Brian White and Kendal Coleman each scored 11 and LaTerrrance Green added 10 on the night. 

COACH CUNNINGHAM SAID 

 "I thought we showed some real fight down the stretch. Brandon Swaby, in particular, showed incredible competitive fire and we were able to feed off that. But ultimately, I have to do a better job getting the team squared away and ready to rock-and-roll. We have to give Northwestern State credit, they played with a purpose and were tough to deal with. We will learn from tonight and continue to get better."

LOOKING AHEAD 

UIW is back on the road next week with two trips to McNeese on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. CT and at SFA on Saturday, Feb. 20 with a 4:30 p.m. CT tip-off.

FOLLOW ALONG

For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwathletics.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook. 
 
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