New Orleans led 41-38 at the break and extended its lead to nine in the second half, but the lead dwindled towards the end of the game. After a Damion Rosser bucket to put UNO up 72-68, UCA ripped off a decisive 11-1 run to salvage the game.
The Privateers were uncharacteristically hot early from downtown, with Lamont Berzat and Derek St. Hilaire keeping them afloat with multiple threes each. Berzat finished with 20 points to lead UNO in scoring, along with Rosser's 20. Troy Green had a quiet night with 11 points on 5-of-15 shooting and fouled out. The Bucs outrebounded the Bears 37-32 and committed just 9 turnovers, but shot 38% from the field to UCA's 57%.
New Orleans finally returns home for the first time since December 2 on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. against Incarnate Word.
