The Incarnate Word Cardinals are well underway in their second full season at the Division I level.

Last season, they finished the year with a 21 - 6 record overall, and a 9 - 5 record in conference play. Mind you, a majority of their non-conference games were played against non-Division I opponents, like their first two games were again this season. They upended Texas-Tyler to open the 2014-15 campaign, 89 - 49, and then scored a second straight win over Huston-Tillotson, 94 - 63.

The Cardinals were entering their biggest test of the season, as they went on the road to face the Princeton Tigers. The Tigers entered Saturday with a 1 - 2 record, and were in a mini two-game losing streak after losses to George Mason and Lafayette.

The Cardinals' offense was going to be Princeton's toughest challenge to overcome, while the fact that Princeton is a Division I opponemt made this game the toughest challenge to date for the Cardinals.

The keys to the game for each team were simple: each team's star players were going to have to step up if either team wanted to win. This means that Denzel Livingston and Kyle Hittle would have to be impact players for the Cardinals, while Spencer Weisz needed to step up for the Tigers.

All three of these players had strong performances Saturday morning, but it was a team effort that led the Cardinals to victory over the Tigers.

In the first half, Denzel Livingston struggled for the Cardinals, going 1-of-10 from the field. He ended the first half with 5 points. Jontrell Walker led the way for the Cardinals with 10 first-half points.

Incarnate Word stretched the lead to as much as 17-points in the first half, capped off by a three-pointer by Livingston at 7:42 mark. However, the Tigers wouldn't go away, as they chipped away at the lead. Incarnate Word only scored 2 points in the last 7:42 of the first-half, allowing Princeton back into the game.

Led by Spencer Weisz who had 14 points in the first half, the Tigers entered the break trailing by only 4, 31 - 27.

In the second half, the teams traded baskets over the first six minutes, with multiple lead changes over the first six minutes of the game. Princeton would stretch the lead to 5 points with 13:48 left in the first half, and would hold it until the midway point of the half. The Cardinals would grab the lead back at the 11:01 mark of the half, thanks to a John Baker layup, and Incarnate Word would never look back.

Incarnate Word would hold the lead from there on out, never allowing Princeton to get any closer than 3 points. Strong shooting from the costless throw line was the key for Incarnate Word down the stretch, as they secured their toughest win so far in the 2014-15 season.

The Cardinals went on the road and upended the Tigers, 79 - 68.

Denzel Livingston struggled in the first half, but managed to put together a solid game for Incarnate Word. Livingston, who is one of the best guards in the country that you probably have never heard about, recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Livingston went 2-of-13 from the floor, but went 6-of-6 from the costless throw line.

On Livingston's poor shooting day, the rest of the Cardinals stepped up to help lead the team to victory. Five players scored in double-figures for Incarnate Word. Jontrell Wright led the way for the Cardinals, scoring a team-high 21 points in the win. Traylin Farris scored 16 points, Kyle Hittle scored 14 points, and Mitchell Badillo added 12 points in the victory.

The Cardinals were able to withstand a strong offensive showing from Princeton, as the Tigers had four players of their own score in double-digits. Spencer Weisz led all scorers in the game with 22 points, to go along with 5 rebounds. Steven Cook chipped in with 14 points, Amir Bell added 13 points, and Hans Brase had a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort.

The Cardinals have two home games upcoming against non-Division I opponents before they embark on a grueling 7-game road trip that will take them into Southland play. The Cardinals will take on teams such as UTEP, Nebraska, UMKC, and Grand Canyon in their 7-game road swing.

Princeton will take on UTEP on November 27th as a part of the Wooden Legacy Tournament.