SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team hits the road for a pair of games this week, hoping to find its footing after a tough start to the season.
 
The Cardinals have begun the 2026-27 campaign 0-2. After falling 91-60 at Oklahoma State in the season opener Monday, UIW suffered a 66-54 loss in its home opener to Chicago State Thursday, despite forcing 21 turnovers and getting an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double from Godswill Erheriene, and a five-assist, seven-steal performance from Mekhi Connor.
 
Offense has been hard to come by for Incarnate Word, which has committed 40 turnovers while shooting just 34.6 from the field and 24.4 percent from 3-point range.
 
UIW, which is away from home for 10 of its first 12 games, will play the first two of four scheduled contests against the Mountain West this season. It will travel to face the University of Texas El Paso on Sunday before heading out to the west coast to take on the University of California Davis Wednesday. 

UTEP (0-1)

WHEN AND WHERE: Sunday, 5 p.m., El Paso Texas

ABOUT THE MINERS: Picked to finish ninth out of 10 in its first season in the Mountain West, UTEP lost 12 players to the transfer portal after going 12-20 a season ago while finishing 324th in the nation in scoring. The offense had four players score in double figures in its season opener, led by an 18-point, seven-rebound effort from freshman Youssout Traore. But it wasn't enough as the Miners fell 84-76 to Northern Kentucky. UTEP won the turnover battle by a two-to-one margin (14-7), but lost at the free throw line, where the Norse shot 30-of-33 to UTEP's 14-of-24. 

MATHCUP HISTORY: UTEP has won the only two meetings between the two teams, who haven't played in nine years. The Miners defeated the Cardinals 81-65 on Dec. 8, 2014 and 73-66 on Dec. 19, 2017. Both games were played in El Paso.
 

UC Davis (1-1)

WHEN AND WHERE: Wednesday, 2:11 p.m., Davis, Calif.

ABOUT THE AGGIES: Also new to the Mountain West, UC Davis was picked to finish eighth in the league after coming over from the Big West. The Aggies won 19 games a season ago and brought back a strong nucleus of players, including leading scorer Connor Sevilla (13.3 points per-game). UC Davis has struggled to put complete games together to start the year. The Aggies held a nine-point halftime lead in their opener against North Alabama, only to lose 79-75 after being outscored 43-30 in the second half. They then led just 26-24 at the half against Division-II Menlo (Calif.) on Thursday before winning the second half 39-28 and the game 65-52.

MATHCUP HISTORY: Thursday will mark the first ever meeting between the two schools. 

Both games will be streamed for a fee on the Moutain West streaming service MW+.