LOUISIANA – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball fell to an even 5-5 record after dropping two games in Louisiana. The Cardinals first lost to Nicholls 67-74 on Saturday and then to New Orleans 83-84 on Monday night.
 
In the first game of the week Jordan Pyke led the way for the Cardinals scoring 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Tahj Staveskie wasn't far behind with 19 points on the day.
 
Things were back and forth early in the contest, but the eclectic scorer Davion Bailey picked up two early fouls and was forced to sit most of the first half. The Cardinals were called for seven fouls in the first 10 minutes of the game and 11 in the half allowing the Colonels to build a solid advantage from the free throw line. At the break UIW trailed by one 34-33.
 
In the second half the foul calls evened out, Davion scored his first points of the game, and Jordan Pyke dominated the paint scoring 11 more points and all eight of his rebounds. However, Nicholls was not only able to keep pace with the Cardinals, but also out shoot them from beyond the arc as UIW went 1-11. This helped the Colonels hold onto their lead and walk away with a 67-74 win.
 
In the second game of the week Harold Woods kept the Cardinals afloat with some key buckets, scoring 15 against UNO. Tahj and Davion were once again the stars of the show with 24 and 28 points respectively.
 
UIW fell behind early in this one when New Orleans scored the first nine points of the game. Woods kept the Cardinals in it with a quick five points. However, UIW once again found themselves in early foul trouble and the Privateers controlled the game leading 38-26 at the break.
 
Late in the game UIW went on a 10-0 run, led by Bailey, Pyke, and Staveskie, cutting the UNO lead to just five, 54-49. UIW continued to chip away at the lead until Bailey found Woods cutting to the basket for the score giving the Cardinals their first lead of the game 78-76. On the next possession the Privateers converted on a four-point play and regained the lead. UIW remained in the game but couldn't score in the final seconds and lost by a final score of 83-84.
 
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