Incarnate Word Outlasts Southern Indiana 87–81 at Boardwalk Battle
By Sean Bertolini
Nov 20, 2025
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —Incarnate Word secured a hard-fought 87–81 victory over Southern Indiana at the Geico Boardwalk Battle in Daytona Beach, using efficient scoring and physical play to control the matchup. The Cardinals held a slim 41–38 lead at halftime, leaning on steady guard play and strong execution in their half-court sets.
Davion Bailey led UIW with 25 points on an efficient shooting night, while Tahj Staveskie added 21 and Harold Woods contributed 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Their ability to finish plays and win key one-on-one matchups helped the Cardinals maintain a small but consistent edge throughout the second half.
Southern Indiana battled behind 21 points from Ismail Habib and 18 apiece from Cardell Bailey and Ola Ajiboye, but the Screaming Eagles struggled to overcome UIW’s dominance on the boards, getting outrebounded 38–27. Despite keeping the game within reach, USI couldn’t capitalize late, allowing Incarnate Word to close out a strong early-season win.