Privateers Coast Past Belhaven

Daniel Sackey drives the paint
in the first half against Belhaven

In the final tuneup before the conference season, the Privateers (4-7) easily dusted off Belhaven 94-54 at Lakefront Arena on Friday afternoon.

New Orleans scored the first 20 points of the game and were never remotely threatened, leading 47-18 at halftime.  Derek St. Hilaire, Tyson Jackson, and D'Ante Bell led the very balanced UNO scoring attack with 11 each, and Troy Green added 10 more.  The defense forced 29 Blazer turnovers.

The Privateers next head to Katy, Texas for the Southland tip-off tournament next week.  The games will not officially count as conference games, but will serve as a preseason showcase of sorts.

Shorthanded UNO Gets Blown Out

The Privateers (3-7) continued their disappointing start to the 2021-22 campaign with a non-competitive 82-50 loss at Utah State on Saturday evening.

Playing shorthanded with only seven dressed out, New Orleans fell behind 18-4 early and never threatened, shooting an anemic 28.6% as a team for the game.  Simeon Kirkland notched a double-double for UNO, leading the way with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

The Privateers return to the Lakefront on Friday night against Dillard.

Privateers Lose to Depleted Cajuns

Sophomore Tyson Jackson

UL Lafayette, playing down two starters, still dusted off New Orleans 80-67 at the Cajundome Friday night.

The Privateers (3-6) trailed 8-0 at the outset but fought back to within two after a Troy Green heave found the net at the halftime buzzer.  UNO briefly flashed ahead 49-48 for its only lead of the night before immediately surrendering a 10-0 ULL run, after which the host Cajuns never looked back.

Tyson Jackson had a remarkable night to share the lead in scoring with 17 points on 8-for-8 shooting.  Simeon Kirkland also bolstered the UNO inside attack with 17 points of his own.  Normally prolific Derek St. Hilaire was held in check with just 9 points on 2-for-11 shooting.

UNO will get a week off before heading to Utah State next Saturday night.

UNO Fades Late at Northwestern

St. Hilaire led UNO
with 27 points

For a healthy portion of the evening, it looked like the heavy underdog Privateers (1-2) were about to spring an upset at Northwestern, but the Wildcats surged late to secure an 83-67 win.

New Orleans led 37-35 at the half, and extended that lead to 46-37 in the early portion of the second half.  UNO led as late as 59-58, but Northwestern hit several killer threes down the stretch to put them away.

Derek St. Hilaire paced the Privateers with a 27-point outing, though he shot just 10-for-27 and 2-for-8 from downtown.  Tyson Jackson joined him in double figures with 10.

The Bucs return to Lakefront Arena on Friday when they host CUSA's Rice Owls.

Privateers Coast to First Win

St. Hilaire again led
UNO in scoring

After a tough opening night in Oxford, Mississippi, the Privateers (1-1) got into the win column with a comfortable 79-41 victory over Spring Hill in Saturday's home opener on the lakefront.

New Orleans raced out to a large early lead, extending its lead to 30 points at the break.  The huge early advantage enabled them to survive a sluggish second half without being threatened.

Derek St. Hilaire, as he did so often down the stretch of 2020-21, led UNO in scoring with 17 points. De'Sean Allen-Eikens joined him in double figures with 10.  Freshman Jamond Vincent, playing in just his second collegiate game, led the Privateers in rebounding with 9.

The visiting Badgers shot just 28.1% against the UNO defense and committed 20 turnovers.

Next up will be a trip to Chicago to take on Northwestern before returning home to take on Rice next Friday night.

Privateers Drop Season Opener

Sr G Derek St. Hilaire

After a solid start, the Privateers (0-1) surrendered a 20-2 run at Ole Miss and lost convincingly on opening night in Oxford by a 82-61 score.

New Orleans led the host Rebels 17-11 early before the big run put Mississippi up for good.  Derek St. Hilaire was the only Privateer in double figures with 21 points.  Much like in Saturday's exhibition game against Loyola, turnovers hurt their cause, as UNO committed 19 as a team.

UNO will open their home schedule on Saturday afternoon at Lakefront Arena.

Privateers Take 3 of 4 vs. SLU, Tie For First

Woullard had four hits,
four walks, five RBI, and
a homer in the series

The Privateers (23-17, 18-10) began a critical series against Southeastern Louisiana at Maestri Field two games out of first place.  By the end of the weekend, New Orleans sat in a first place tie with the Lions after winning three of four games.

On Friday, UNO clung to a 9-8 lead with the bases loaded.  Reliever Caleb Seroski induced an incredibly timely game-ending double play to cinch the win.

Saturday's doubleheader began with a complete game victory from Chris Turpin, as the Privateers grabbed an 8-4 win.  In game two, Luther Woullard blasted a three-run home run to start the scoring, and UNO never looked back, winning 11-3.

Stuprich saved his team from
a sweep with a Sunday shutout

On Sunday, Southeastern prevented a sweep with a dominant complete game shutout from Brennan Stuprich.  No Privateer got as far as second base in the 7-0 defeat.

Next weekend, UNO travels to Lake Charles to take on McNeese.

Privateers Sweep HBU on Opening Weekend

Turpin tossed a complete
game on Friday night

For the struggling Privateers, 2-9 Houston Baptist was exactly what the doctor ordered on Southland Conference opening weekend.

New Orleans came in with just five wins themselves, but emerged 9-7 and 4-0 in league play after a four game sweep of the Huskies at Maestri Field.

The series began with Chris Turpin pitching his second consecutive gem, this time going the full nine on Friday night in a 3-0 shutout victory.

Willis had Saturday's
game-winning HR

In Saturday's doubleheader, UNO trailed fell behind 6-0 and 9-6 in game one before rallying to tie each time.  But HBU retook the lead at 10-9 heading into the bottom of the ninth.  That's when, with a runner on, Darren Willis showed uncharacteristic power, punching a line drive just over the wall in left center for a two-run walk-off home run.  In the second game, the Privateers had an easier time, winning 8-2 with Salo Iza leading the way, notching three hits and three RBI.  Kyle Khachadourian threw a seven-inning complete game.

In Sunday's game, Gaige Howard's single up the middle in the bottom of the fourth broke a 2-2 tie and gave UNO the lead for good, with the Privateers going on to secure a 9-2 victory to complete the sweep.  Caleb Seroski pitched three innings of scoreless relief for the win.

Hoops Season Ends in Quarterfinals

Farewell? Rosser led the way
in the season's final game
(Courtesy: UNO Athletics)

The Privateers concluded their season in the quarterfinals at the Southland Tournament with a loss to Northwestern State, 82-79.

New Orleans came out the gate sluggish, falling behind by double digits early and shooting poorly.  They were able to fight back and take a one-point lead on a couple of different occasions but just couldn't take control, seeming a step slow defensively and on the boards while playing a second consecutive day.

Damion Rosser, second team all-Southland, capped a fine season with a 28-point effort to lead UNO.  Rodney Carson Jr. had 13, Derek St. Hilaire had 12, and Troy Green 10.

UNO Wins First Game at SLC Tourney

Derek St. Hilaire slams
home the game's first basket
(Courtesy: UNO Athletics)

Playing Southeastern Louisiana for the second time in four days, New Orleans had a much easier time with the Lions this time in an 80-63 victory at the Southland Tournament in Katy, Texas.

The Privateers beat SLU in overtime at Lakefront Arena this past Saturday, but in this rematch, they dominated from the outset.  UNO led 25-10 early, with Derek St. Hilaire's early blazing shooting accounting for 16 of those 25 points.  But several guys got involved as the game went on, maintaining the healthy Privateer lead the entire way.

St. Hilaire finished with 20 points to lead the way, but Damion Rosser added 15 in a fine effort.  Troy Green had 11, Rodney Carson Jr. 10, and Ahren Freeman 10.

UNO will matchup with #4 seed Northwestern State tomorrow at the same time, 5 p.m.  The Privateers and Demons split their two regular season games.

Rough Week For Baseball

Chris Turpin pitched a
gem on Friday night

The Privateers have slipped under .500 after a week in which they lost three out of four.

After beginning the week on Wednesday at Maestri Field with a 5-0 loss to South Alabama, a game in which they had four errors but just two hits, New Orleans defeated Bradley by that same 5-0 score on Friday night at the Maes.  Chris Turpin and Kyle Khachadourian teamed up for a five-hit shutout, with Turpin striking out 11.  Gaige Howard blasted a homer to fuel the offense.

Following that victory, it was all downhill with two clunkers in a row over the weekend.  UNO squandered a 5-0 lead on Saturday, surrendering nine unanswered runs while committing another four errors in a 9-5 defeat at the hands of the Braves.

On Sunday, more shaky defense and another light offensive showing (four hits) led to a 6-3 defeat in the rubber match.

The Privateers (5-6) next take on LSU at Maestri Field on Wednesday night before opening conference play at home on Friday.

Privateers Win Third in a Row

Green led UNO with 24 points

In another down-to-the-wire contest, the Privateers (9-14, 8-7) finished the regular season with a 81-76 overtime victory over Southeastern Louisiana at Lakefront Arena.

The game was tight all the way, with Derek St. Hilaire breaking a 29-29 tie with a three-pointer at the buzzer heading to halftime.  New Orleans opened up a nine-point lead, but it was quickly cut, and Gus Okafor's deep three from the right wing tied the game at 69 with 10.7 seconds left to force overtime.

The extra frame was as tight as regulation, with Damion Rosser putting UNO up for good at 75-74 on a short banked jumper.  Troy Green scored on a drive moments later, and the Privateers were able to hang on and secure the win.

On senior night, Green led UNO with 24, and despite struggling from beyond the arc, Derek St. Hilaire added 19 using an array of drives to get his points.  Rodney Carson Jr. had 11, including a couple of threes.

Either way, New Orleans had the #5 seed sewn up, and they will play the winner of Tuesday's 8/9 game at the Southland Tournament in Katy, Texas on Wednesday at 5 p.m. on ESPN+.

Privateers Exorcise Demons

Back home in Lakefront Arena, New Orleans rode a strong 56-point second half to a narrow victory over Northwestern State, 92-83.

Green led UNO with 19
(Courtesy: UNO Athletics)

Down 43-36 at the break, the Privateers (8-14, 7-7) ripped off 10 straight out of the locker room to take a 46-43 edge.  They fell behind again briefly, but gradually took control down the stretch. using another 7-0 run to take the lead for good.  Unlike Saturday night against Nicholls, UNO was able to withstand a late rally and hold on in the waning moments.

Troy Green paced all Privateer scorers with 19 points.  Joining him in double figures was Rodney Carson Jr. with 16, Damion Rosser 13, and Ahren Freeman 12.  Derek St. Hilaire uncharacteristically struggled from the field but notched 7 assists.  Green also had 7 assists as well as 8 rebounds.

New Orleans will conclude its regular season on Saturday night against Southeastern Louisiana on the lakefront.

Privateers Beat Wounded UIW

Freeman was a perfect
6-for-6 from the field

Already playing without star Keaston Willis, Incarnate Word lost big man Marcus Larsson two minutes into the game and lacked the firepower to stay with visiting New Orleans, who beat them easily, 88-72.

The Cardinals put up a fight for a good portion of the night, pulling to within 51-48 early in the second half.  But UNO had enough, ripping off 14 straight points and putting any doubt to bed.

The balanced Privateer attack was led by Troy Green with 18 points.  Joining him in double figures: Derek St. Hilaire with 16, Ahren Freeman with 14, and Damion Rosser and Kmani Doughty with 11.

UNO (7-14, 6-7) turns around quickly to play Northwestern State at Lakefront Arena on Wednesday night.

Nicholls Beats UNO in Overtime

St. Hilaire had 20 points
in the first half, 32 overall

A hard fought contest on the lakefront ended with a narrow 105-101 overtime victory by visiting Nicholls.

The Colonels shot 58% in the first half en route to a 52-45 lead, with the Privateers staying in it only by the grace of Derek St. Hilaire's monster 20-point opening frame.  UNO tightened up defensively down the stretch, finally taking a 62-61 lead on Ahren Freeman's putback.

The lead went back and forth until, with UNO up 78-75, Rodney Carson Jr. hit a killer fallaway three from the right wing.  But Nicholls rallied and, down 85-82, Ty Gordon banked in a three at the buzzer to send it to overtime.

In overtime, Nicholls, with new life, immediately took control with eight straight points and held on to put the Privateers away.

St. Hilaire finished with 32 points.  Troy Green added 21, and Damion Rosser 17.

New Orleans (6-14, 5-7) heads to Incarnate Word on Monday for a COVID makeup game.

Privateers Win 2 of 3 Against ULM

Fr OF Isaac Williams

Down six runs in the fifth inning, New Orleans (3-2) scored seven and made it hold up, toppling UL Monroe 7-6 in game one of a three-game set at Maestri Field.

After Isaac Williams delivered a two-run single to give UNO the lead, two scoreless innings from Jacob Lamkin and one each from Haden Erbe and Collin Kulivan preserved it.  Reliever Caleb Seroski pitched his own scoreless inning in relief of struggling starter Chris Turpin to get the win.

Kasten Furr homered in the 2nd

In game two, Kasten Furr's home run got the Privateers off to a strong start.  But with the score tied at 4-4 in the fifth, Darren Willis' sacrifice fly scored Furr and put New Orleans up for good.  The Privateers got more strong bullpen work and went on to win 7-4.

In Sunday's finale, the Privateers fell behind 4-0 early.  Pierce Howard hit a home run to cut the margin to 4-1, but UNO couldn't get much else going and eventually fell 7-2.

They'll next be in action at Maestri Field on Wednesday night against South Alabama.

Late Run Helps UNO To First Road Win

Trailing 51-48 to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, New Orleans scored 13 points in a row to take control and claim their first road win of this strange season.  The final was 69-61.

The run was decisive in a game that had been extremely nip-and-tuck up to that point.  The Privateer offensive attack was fairly balanced, with Troy Green leading the way with 16 points.  Damion Rosser had 13 points and 9 rebounds.  Derek St. Hilaire added 11, including three triples.

For the second consecutive game, the UNO defense held its opponent to under 40% from the field.  The Islanders shot an anemic 32%, scored just 12 points in the paint, and were outrebounded 44-36.

The Privateers will return home on Saturday to play their third game this week when they play a rematch against Nicholls, who blasted them earlier in the season in Thibodaux.

Five-Run Seventh Lifts Tulane Over UNO

The Tulane Green Wave broke open a close 2-1 game with five runs in the seventh inning, scoring a comfortable 7-1 win over the Privateers (2-2) to claim the only game of the 2021 Pelican Cup.

KC Simonich drove in the only New Orleans run in the top of the sixth with a two-out single to score Pierce Howard.  But after reasonably effective outings from starter Kyle Khachadourian and Cortlynn Ramirez, Rudy Amaya surrendered five runs in just a third of an inning as the Green Wave put the game away.

UNO returns to the lakefront this Friday through Sunday for a three-game set against UL Monroe.

Privateers Romp Over UCA

Troy Green scores in the paint

For a struggling 5-13 team, the Privateers have won their share of home blowouts this season, adding another one to the pile with an 88-63 victory over Central Arkansas.

Trailing 13-12 early, New Orleans went on a 21-4 run and never looked back, cruising to victory over the Bears while never being seriously threatened.

Derek St. Hilaire paced the UNO attack with 18 points, with Troy Green close behind at 17.  Damion Rosser added 13.  New Orleans, which improved to 4-6 in Southland play, held UCA to 32% from the field.

UNO travels to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a quick turnaround on Wednesday night.

Privateers Split Sunday DH with Southern

In the first game of Sunday's doubleheader at Maestri Field, the Privateers (1-1) fell to Southern 4-3.

Down by one run, New Orleans was unable to capitalize on a leadoff triple in the 8th by Gaige Howard or a leadoff double in the 9th by Salo Iza.  Both of those threats ended with three consecutive outs.

In game two, UNO flew out of the gate with a five-run first, capped by a three-run homer from Houston transfer Blake Way.  The Privateers rode that all the way to a 6-3 victory, using a bullpen game highlighted by winning redshirt freshman pitcher Austin Acree's three scoreless innings.

Woullard's Huge Opening Day Sparks UNO

Woullard: 4-for-5, two
homers, 7 RBI

The 2021 Privateer baseball season began just as the 2020 season suddenly ended: with a win over Southern on the lakefront.

New Orleans took the first of three games against the Jaguars at Maestri Field by a 10-5 score.  Luther Woullard had a monster opening day, going 4-for-5 and launching two homers to go along with a double and a triple.  Batting in the 8th inning, he needed only a single for the cycle, but blasted his second home run instead.

Also going deep was Beau Bratton, who turned an early 4-2 deficit into a tie game with a two-run blast in the bottom of the third.  He, Darren Willis, and Kasten Furr had two hits apiece to aid the UNO offensive attack.  Chris Turpin struggled early but held Southern at bay after four early runs, going six innings and earning the victory.  Collin Kulivan went 1 1/3 innings for the save.

The Privateers complete the series against Southern tomorrow at Maestri Field with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

Second Half Spark Carries SFA Past UNO

Green had 20 to lead UNO
(Courtesy: UNO Athletics)

The Privateers (4-13, 3-6), off a 16-day COVID layoff, played inspired basketball for much of the afternoon against Stephen F. Austin, but couldn't finish down the stretch in a 89-79 defeat.

New Orleans held a 62-55 lead in the second half when SFA coach Kyle Keller got a technical foul.  The Lumberjacks awoke from their slumber from that point on, establishing their superiority inside and outscoring UNO 34-17 the rest of the way.  SFA bested UNO by a whopping 52-28 in the paint.

Troy Green led the way for the Bucs with 20 points.  Rodney Carson, Jr. added 16, Damion Rosser had 14, and Derek St. Hilaire, who was kicked out of the game after two technicals of his own, had 11.

With this Saturday's scheduled game at McNeese cancelled, UNO's next outing appears to be next Monday night at home versus Central Arkansas, which is itself a makeup of an earlier postponed contest.

Lions' Big Run Topples UNO

Southeastern Louisiana used a 17-2 second half spurt to overtake visiting New Orleans on Saturday afternoon, 79-73.

The Lions, who trailed 36-34 at the break, were down 51-46 when their big run propelled them to an 8-point lead, which grew to 10 shortly thereafter.  UNO fought back, getting as close as 4, but couldn't quite catch up again.

The two offensive forces for New Orleans were Damion Rosser, who led the way with 22, and Derek St. Hilaire, who added 18.  No other Privateers reached double figures.

UNO will get a week off before returning home next Saturday to face Stephen F. Austin.

Privateers Nipped by Demons

In a closely contested game, the Northwestern State Demons made the plays down the stretch to edge visiting New Orleans, 81-73.

A back-and-forth game all the way, UNO led 37-34 at the half and took a 57-52 lead on a Damion Rosser dunk before the Demons began to take control down the stretch and eventually overtook the Privateers (4-11, 3-4).

Rosser led UNO with 17 points and 9 rebounds, though he shot only 8-for-21. Derek St. Hilaire had 12 points, all in the first half, and Jahmel Myers also had 12.  Northwestern State shot 52% from the field and outrebounded the Privateers 38-31.

New Orleans' road trip continues in Hammond on Saturday afternoon as they'll take on Southeastern Louisiana.

Nicholls Surges, Blows out UNO

Courtesy: UNO Athletics

Riding a three-game winning streak, the Privateers (4-10, 3-3) got a harsh dose of reality in Thibodaux, running into an even hotter Nicholls team and falling 86-62.

New Orleans played well early and even opened up a 25-22 lead on the host Colonels, who came in riding their own five-game winning streak.  Nicholls edged back ahead but took a tenuous 42-36 lead into the break.  However, they immediately hit UNO with an 8-0 run right out of the locker room and never looked back, dominating the second half en route to an easy victory.

Damion Rosser led the Privateers, who shot just 38% as a team, with 16 points as well as 8 rebounds.  Derek St. Hilaire hit 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and added 14 points.  Troy Green also had 14.  New Orleans shot just 43% from the free throw line and were also outrebounded 49-36.

UNO stays on the road next week for two more, first at Northwestern State on Wednesday night.

UNO Coasts To Third Straight Win

Ladarius Marshall throws
down a first half dunk

After a 1-9 start, the Privateers (4-9, 3-2) have rattled off three straight dominant victories, the third of which came Wednesday night at Lakefront Arena over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 87-68.

Even with recent phenomenon Derek St. Hilaire held in check with just 6 points, New Orleans boasted a steady, balanced offensive attack, with five players in double figures.  UNO jumped to a huge early lead, peaking at 37-15, and were never seriously threatened.

Damion Rosser led the way with 15 points, and and Rodney Carson Jr. added 14.  Troy Green had 13 and Lamont Berzat 12.  Jahmel Myers posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

UNO will take its winning streak on the road for a Saturday afternoon contest at Nicholls.

St. Hilaire, UNO Stay Hot in Win

St. Hilaire does it again

Last week the Privateers used a sizzling offensive performance to dominate Incarnate Word, and that carried over in Saturday night's 99-84 victory over McNeese State at Lakefront Arena.

There were other similarities, such as another Derek St. Hilaire lights-out performance.  St. Hilaire beat the buzzer with a last-second layup to send New Orleans to the locker room up 52-41 and wrap up a 20-point first half.

He was joined by his teammates for an offensive show that rivaled last week's.  UNO made 10 three pointers, and also outrebounded the visiting Cowboys 43-31.  St. Hilaire led the way with a monster 33-point night, and Damion Rosser added 20.  Troy Green chipped in 12.

New Orleans (3-9, 2-2) will finish a three-game homestand on Wednesday night against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Offense Shines in Rout of UIW

G Derek St. Hilaire

The Privateers (2-9, 1-2) worked out some frustration on visiting Incarnate Word, ending a six-game losing streak with a resounding 86-64 margin at Lakefront Arena on Saturday.

New Orleans got contributions from several players, especially Derek St. Hilaire's monster 17-point first half.  At one point, St. Hilaire had 15 points, and UIW 14.

After riding his performance to a 40-25 halftime lead, others stepped up to bring it home.  St. Hilaire finished with 21 points, but Troy Green and Damion Rosser added 18 each.  The Privateers shot a blistering 65% as a team.

UNO gets a week off before returning to the Lakefront Arena court for a contest against McNeese next Saturday.

Privateers Fall Late to UCA

In a game the Privateers (1-9, 0-2) led most of the way, Central Arkansas surged late to an 83-79 Southland Conference home win on Wednesday night.

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.

SFA Smothers UNO in Opener

New Orleans eventually got on track in Nacogdoches, but it was too little, too late in a 78-67 conference opening loss at Stephen F. Austin.

The Privateers, who shot 25% from the field in the first half but 62% in the second, didn't hit a three until the last 25 seconds of the game and turned the ball over 23 times, falling to 1-8 on the season and 0-1 in the Southland Conference.

As usual, Troy Green and Damion Rosser provided most of what little offense UNO had, combining for 41 of their 67 points.  Rosser had 22 points and Green 19.  Rosser also led the Bucs with 6 rebounds.

New Orleans will head to Central Arkansas on Wednesday before opening their home conference slate next Saturday.