COMMERCE – Saturday afternoon's game on the Hunt Regional Healthcare court in the Field House was tied at 73 with 1:53 to play, but then the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals scored the final nine points of the game to win 82-73 over the East Texas A&M University men's basketball team on Senior Day.
 
In a battle of two teams that are in the thick of the race for a spot into the conference tournament, both teams are now tied with a record of 6-13 against Southland Conference opponents. The Lions are 11-18 overall, while the Cardinals are 11-17 overall. The two teams split the season series this year with both teams winning at home.
 
There are just three games left in the regular season. UIW and East Texas A&M are in a three-way for ninth place in the standings, a game back of Lamar and Northwestern State, who are tied for seventh.
 
SENIOR DAY
Saturday was Senior Day for East Texas A&M as the Lions honored Michael Folarin (London, England) Damian Garcia (Houston – Dobie), Gianni Hunt (Lakewood, Calif.), Tay Mosher (The Colony), and Josh Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.) prior to the game.
 
The Cardinals scored the first four points of the game and did not trail, though there were four ties. UIW led a game-best 25-14 with 10:35 to go in the first half, but the Lions had a string of nine straight points to come within two in the final minute of the half and trailed 43-39 at the break.
 
An eight-point lead, 71-63, with 6:26 left in the game by UIW was nearly erased by the Lions as an 8-0 run tied the game at 71 with 2:50 to go on a put-back and-one by Hunt.
 
With the game tied at 73, the Cardinals stole an inbounds pass and hit a three-pointer to spark the 8-0 run to end the game.
 
Noah Pagotto (Wollongong, Australia) scored 26 to lead the Lions, shooting 11 for 14 from the field. Ronnie Harrison (Forney) tallied 18 points and six rebounds, while Vinny Sigona (Prestonwood Christian Academy) scored 15 off the bench.
 
UIW's Taj Staveskie led the way with 33 points, hitting 7 three-pointers and going 6 for 6 at the line.
 

POST GAME INTERVIEW

UP NEXT
The Lions host HCU for their final home game of the season on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.