Cardinals’ hot shooting too much for St. Edward’s
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Pierce Caldwell scored a game-high 25 points and Incarnate Word shot 55 percent from the field to push the Cardinals to a 93-73 victory over St. Edward's in the semifinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament Friday evening at the McDermott Center.
Incarnate Word (22-6) opened the game on an 8-4 run led by two three-pointers from Pierce Caldwell and a layup from Eric Nuncio.
St. Edward's (17-11) came roaring back, using a 14-4 run over the next three minutes to take an 18-12 lead with 14:13 remaining. Junior Tylor Carr came off of the bench to score four points to lead the way for the Hilltoppers.
After another three-pointer from Caldwell cut the lead to three, St. Edward's went on an 11-2 run to extend the lead out to the biggest of the first half, 29-17, with 9:31 remaining. Carr had five points during the stretch and the Hilltoppers had five free-throws.
After trading baskets for the next two minutes, Incarnate Word rallied with a 24-10 run to close the half. The rally closed the gap to 41-39. Carr led all scorers at the break with 13 points. Caldwell led the Cardinals with nine points.
In the second half, Incarnate Word came out hot, outscoring the Hilltoppers, 7-2 in the first two minutes of action. Eric Nuncio had a three-pointer and Garrett Bell added a traditional three-point play. The run put the Cardinals in front, 46-43.
St. Edward's battled back with a 7-0 run over the next four minutes to retake the lead, 50-46, with 14:24 remaining in the game. Junior Reggie Shanks scored five points during the run to spark the Hilltoppers.
Incarnate Word then could not miss as they went on a 27-6 run over the next seven minutes to take control of the game, 73-56, with 7:34 remaining. From there, the Cardinals coasted to the finish capturing the 20-point victory and advancing to the championship game.
Shanks led the Hilltoppers, producing a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Carr added 13 points and senior Kyle Wakefield scored 10 points.
Caldwell was 5-of-9 from the floor, but he hit four shots from behind the arc and 11-of-12 from the charity stripe. Nuncio added 17 points, while Chris Patterson chipped in with 13 points.
St. Edward's ends its season with a record of 17-11. This is the first time in four seasons that the Hilltoppers have not advanced to the postseason.