Short-handed Incarnate Word rallies past Nicholls, 65-58

SAN ANTONIO -- Charles Brown III and Antoine Smith Jr. each scored 17 points and Incarnate Word pulled way late to beat Nicholls, 65-58, and claim its first Southland Conference win of the season Saturday night.

Battling injuries throughout first two months of the season, Incarnate Word dressed just nine players for its conference opener, an 88-77 loss to McNeese. Against Nicholls the Cardinals used eight players.

The lead changed hands on nearly every possession for much of the second half, but Brown put Incarnate Word (6-9, 1-1) in front for good with a 3-point play with 5:20 left, then did it again with 2:35 left to make it 57-53.

Brown hit 7 of 15 shots from the field and grabbed seven rebounds for the Cardinals, who were 27 of 61 from the floor (44.3 percent). The leading free-throw percentage team in the nation drained all eight shots from the line.

Brandon Moore Jr. had 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Nicholls (8-7, 1-1).