SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team took down the defending Southland Conference champions, McNeese Cowboys, 71-67 on Monday night.
 
Davion Bailey once again led all scorers with 29 points, knocking down seven 3-pointers and Tahj Staveskie added 17. Marcus Glover grabbed seven rebounds with the biggest coming with less than 10 seconds left in the game, leading to his game-winning put back layup.
 
The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead behind none other than the best scorer in the Southland Conference, Davion Bailey. Bailey had eight points and after back-to-back 3-pointers UIW held a 15-5 lead.  
 
That lead quickly faded as the Cowboys went on an 8-0 run of their own. However, UIW held McNeese to just one of eight from beyond the arc in the first half. This helped the Cardinals hold onto that lead through the remainder of the half, leading 34-32 at the break.
 
In the second half Bailey continued to spur on the Cardinal offense, hitting three more 3-pointers and two free throws in less than five minutes, pushing UIW to another double-digit lead, 47-36. However, the Cowboys wouldn't go away. Led by SLC 2025 Player of the Year Javohn Garcia who scored 11 in the half, McNeese was only down by one, 66-65 with 1:53 left.
 
Just a minute later Garcia scored the go-ahead bucket and the Cowboys led for the first time since the first minute of the game, 67-66. On the ensuing possession Jordan Pyke went to the line, tying the game with his first free throw. His next shot was missed, but then was rebounded by Glover, who gave the Cardinals a two-point lead with nine seconds in the game.
 
The Cardinals forced another Cowboy miss on the other end and Pyke put the game away with two more free throws as UIW earned a 71-67 win to start Southland play.
 
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