New Orleans (14-16, 12-9) appeared ready to go but just could not keep pace with the visiting Cowboys early. In particular, they could not contain McNeese's Larry Johnson, who led all scorers with 16 points in the first half. He would only score 1 in the second half, however, as the Privateers rallied.
UNO hung around and hung around and finally overtook McNeese in the stretch run, taking a 56-52 lead on a Kedrick Osby three. UNO led 63-60 with just a minute left, but the Cowboys scored the final six points of the game, including a Tyshawn Archie leaner to put McNeese up with 2.6 seconds left.
Osby led New Orleans with 16 points. Coleton Benson was the only other Privateer in double digits, but he struggled terribly from the field, shooting just 3-for-14 and 0-for-5 from deep. UNO as a team shot just 3-for-21 from three. McNeese was not much better at 4-for-22.
UNO will need to defeat Southeastern Louisiana on Monday night on the lakefront in order to secure a single bye in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament in Lake Charles.
Earlier in the day, the women's basketball team fell to McNeese despite Lauren Banks' 20 points. And before that, Stephen F. Austin's baseball team defeated UNO 3-1 at Maestri Field to drop the Privateers to 0-2 on the young Southland season.
UNO VS. MCNEESE PHOTO GALLERY
