Lake Charles – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team won a game in the Southland Conference Tournament for the first time in school history Sunday. The Cardinals defeated Southeastern Louisiana 71-67 to advance to the SLC Tournament quarterfinals.

Davion Bailey and Jalin Anderson led UIW with 20 points a piece while SLU was led by Sam Hines Jr. with 27.

The Cardinals stormed out to an early lead, using a 14-0 run to jump out to a 20-7 lead with 13:30 to play in the first half. UIW extended their lead to as many as 18, but the Lions responded, using an 8-0 to help cut the deficit. The Cardinals struggled to find nylon as they went without a field goal in the final 9:28 of the first half, and went into the locker room at halftime up 32-25.

The second half was back-and-forth to start and the Cardinals continued to struggle shooting, stretching the shooting drought to 13 minutes. A 12-0 SLU surge helped the Lions take the lead 45-43 and the game was tightly contested from there with both squads exchanging buckets down the stretch. The Lions took a 1 point, 52-51 lead before Anderson drilled a straight away three to put UIW up 54-52. Neither team could create any separation as regulation ended tied at 58 a piece.

In overtime the Lions got off to a quick 62-58 lead. Bailey responded with back-to-back threes and UIW went up 64-63. A Dylan Hayman layup put the Cardinals up 68-65 and UIW buried free throws down the stretch to hold off the Lions and advance.

UIW advances to face No. 3 Nicholls in the SLC quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Lake Charles.

FOLLOW ALONG 
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--UIW CARDINALS--