LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team traveled down to Lake Charles, Louisiana and narrowly fell to the McNeese Cowboys 65-67 in a thriller on Monday night.
 
Jalin Anderson was the game's leading scorer with 15 points. Jordan Pyke and Davion Bailey were close behind him both scoring 14 to round out the Cardinals to score in double-figures.
 
The number one seeded McNeese Cowboys came out in control of the game looking to get back on track after losing their first SLC game of the season on Saturday. After the Cardinals made the first basket of the game the Cowboys scored three of their own and wouldn't give up the lead for most of the first half.
 
Jalin Anderson took control in the second consecutive game for UIW scoring 10 points along with four points and four rebounds. He ended the half with his fingerprints all over the game. The final three possessions of the half went as follows. An Anderson jump shot to bring the Cardinals to within one, a Jordan Pyke dunk on the feed from Anderson to take the lead, and Jalin lobbing an alley-oop to Marcus Glover for the slam.
 
These three buckets combined with the Cardinals keeping the Cowboys from scoring a field goal in the final three minutes and 56 seconds sent UIW into the locker room up 33-30.
 
In the second half the Cardinals and Cowboys battled back in forth. Even in times when it felt like the Cardinals could not miss from the field McNeese never went away. With just under three minutes left in the game UIW had built a five-point lead and was in the bonus, firmly in control of the game. However, the Cowboys got some key stops down the stretch and were able to take the lead.
 
UIW had one last chance with seven seconds remaining down two, 67-65. Jordan Pyke took the three but missed and was able to get his own rebound. Pyke made the put-back shot but after reviewing the ball was in his hands when the final buzzer went off the the Cardinals fell by a final score of 65-67.
 
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