SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team fell in two close games this week. First in overtime to New Orleans on Thursday night (85-79) before losing to Southeastern Louisiana ,75-71, on Saturday night. 
 
Against the New Orleans Privateers, Trey Miller and Jonathan Cisse scored 17 points each, while Miller picked up six steals in the overtime loss.
 
With ten minutes left in the first half, both teams went on a stretch of more than two minutes where no points were scored with four total turnovers and steals. The Privateers went on a 13-4 run with all five players on the court scoring. New Orleans was able to hold that lead all the way to the half, going into the locker room with a 43-30 lead. 
 
In the second half, Cisse and Miller each scored 10 of their 17 points and UIW spent most of their time cutting into the New Orleans lead. The Cardinals were finally able to break even at 69 with 1:53 left in regulation when Dylan Hayman knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game. Then, both teams scored in the paint tying the game at 71. With 10 seconds remaining, Miller grabbed a steal at halfcourt for the game winning shot, but he was called for a charge and the Cardinals were forced to make one last defensive stop in regulation to send the game to overtime.
 
In overtime, each team scored on their first three possessions. After forcing a turnover and scoring on the other end, New Orleans retook the lead and went on to win the game, 85-79.
 
In Saturday night's game Niki Krause led the team in points with 19 going five-for-five from behind the arch. Cisse added 15 points to go along with 10 each from Hayman and Payne.
 
All of SLU's student-athletes who saw playing time in the first half scored, led by Boogie Anderson who had 11 points in the half. UIW was able to keep pace for a while but after a Anderson jump shot and Mehdi Pissis was fouled on a 3-pointer the Lions went on a 17-8 run putting SLU up by 10 points. The Cardinals trailed 38-30 going into the halftime. 
 
Coming out of halftime, the Cardinals responded outscoring Southeastern Louisiana 17-7. Krause contributed seven points on the run and the Cardinals took the lead, 47-45. However, just like the first half, UIW committed 10 fouls giving up 12 points on 13 free throws.
 
Even in foul trouble the Cardinals found a way to battle back. With 32 seconds left, UIW trailed 73-66 when Miller found Hayman on the wing for a 3-pointer. On the ensuing possession, Stephon Payne came up with a steal, and on the other end he was fouled before knocking down both of his free throws to make the score 71-73. The Cardinals were forced to intentionally foul, and SLU's Anderson made both his free throws sealing the game 75-71.
 
The Cardinals will spend next week on the road with games against HCU on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Lamar on Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
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