Privateers Fall at Houston, 75-66

Senior Travin Thibodeaux

The young Privateer men's basketball team is still learning how to win, and it continues to be a painful process early in the season. New Orleans was competitive on the road again, but ultimately fell 75-66 to the host Houston Cougars.

Turnovers were an issue again for the visitors, as UNO shot 57% but only launched 47 shots. Travin Thibodeaux led the way with 19 points, and freshman Troy Green added 16 to go along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists in a breakout performance.

New Orleans trailed 38-31 at the half but fought their way into a 48-48 tie on a Thibodeaux bucket just under the 10-minute mark. But the Cougars drained four threes over the next five minutes as part of a 12-0 run to go back ahead for good.

The Privateers (1-5) get a break this Saturday as they return home to Lakefront Arena to take on Williams Baptist at 2 p.m.

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Privateer Rally Falls Short in Mobile

Freshman Lamont Berzat tied
for the UNO assist lead with 5

After rallying from a 34-23 halftime deficit to take the lead in Mobile against South Alabama, the Jaguars' Rodrick Sikes hit a deep straight-on three with 16 seconds left to put USA back in front for good. The Jags won, 55-52.

New Orleans began the second half on a 22-3 run to take an eight-point lead, which was answered by a quick 9-0 run by South Alabama to regain the lead.  The game then went back and forth until the end.

Lamont Berzat, who barely played in the first half, sparked the rally in the second half with 5 assists. Travin Thibodeaux led UNO in scoring with 14. Troy Green added 11 and Bryson Robinson 10. Michael Zeno led the team with 10 rebounds and tied Berzat's 5 assists.

The Privateers (1-4) will get another try at their first road win when they visit Houston on Wednesday night.

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UNO Edges Spring Hill, Gets First Win

Senior Michael Zeno

It was way too close for comfort, but the Privateers (1-3) edged Division II Spring Hill 74-67 at Lakefront Arena on Friday afternoon for the first win of the season.

New Orleans led by as much as 22 in the first half, settling in to a 40-20 halftime lead.  But the lead slowly eroded over the course of the second half, with UNO leading only 65-59 just after the final media break. The Bucs were unable to establish much offensive rhythm despite shooting over 50% as a team.

Travin Thibodeaux paced the Privateers with 13 points and 5 assists, and Michael Zeno added 12.

The difference was largely at the free throw line, with New Orleans draining 28 of 39 and the visiting Badgers just 9-for-13.

UNO heads back on the road next, facing South Alabama in Mobile on Sunday.

UNO Falls at Memphis, Starts 0-3

Senior Makur Puou

An 0-3 start for the Privateers wasn't unexpected, but New Orleans finished its season-opening three-game road trip in disappointing fashion. They never seriously challenged a weak Memphis squad, falling 63-52 at FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee.

UNO was never really in the game thanks to a 26% shooting performance in the first half en route to a 32-16 deficit at the break. The Privateers fought back to within single digits in the final minute, but the outcome was never seriously in doubt.

Senior Makur Puou led the team in points and rebounds with an 11 and 9 effort.

New Orleans will open its home schedule on Friday afternoon at Lakefront Arena against Division II Spring Hill.

Official box score
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Privateers Routed at Oakland

Thibodeaux led UNO
in scoring for the
second straight game

At least the Privateers didn't get their hopes up.

Any shot of a New Orleans victory was squelched very early on at Oakland on Monday night, as they were swarmed over by a Golden Grizzly blitz of three pointers on their way to a 37-12 deficit before they could blink. The hosts drained their first six threes and eight of their first 10 to put this one away early.

UNO (0-2) fought gamely from that point on, cutting the deficit back into the mid teens in the second half, but never seriously threatened. The Privateers got solid contributions from their post players, with Travin Thibodeaux and Makur Puou pacing the scoring at 20 and 18 points, respectively.

Freshman Troy Green contributed nicely off the bench with 11 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds.

New Orleans gets eight days off before resuming the season-opening road trip at Memphis next Tuesday night.

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Turnovers Doom UNO in Big Apple

The Privateers (0-1) began their 2017-18 campaign in New York City Friday night, falling to Coach Chris Mullin and St. John's, 77-61.

Senior Travin Thibodeaux

New Orleans hampered its own effort with poor ball handling, committing 21 team turnovers.

Despite not starting, senior Travin Thibodeaux led New Orleans in points with 18 and rebounds with 7.  Jorge Rosa was the only other Privateer who scored in double digits with 10. Newcomer Ezekiel Charles drilled a three to cut the St. John's lead to 30-28 in the first half, but the Red Storm finished the frame on a 7-0 run, and UNO never got that close again.

New Orleans travels to Oakland of the Horizon League for an ESPN3 contest on Monday night.

Official box score

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