Johnson Shines but UNO Falls at HCU

Despite a blistering performance from Jordan Johnson, New Orleans fell in its Southland conference opener at Houston Christian, 101-96 in overtime.

Johnson, who notched 39 points on 8-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, kept the Privateers (3-9, 0-1) neck and neck in a shootout.  But HCU matched him, shooting 56% as a team and outrebounding UNO while generally winning the paint.

With just seconds to go, Simeon Kirkland, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds, scored to tie the game and was fouled, but could not convert the free throw, and the game went to overtime.  In the extra session, the Privateers continued to struggle to get stops, and the Huskies outscored them down the stretch for the win.

New Orleans will open its home conference slate next Thursday night against Lamar.

Purdue Knocks off Privateers

Playing against the top-ranked team in America for the first time in school history, New Orleans was determined but overmatched in a 74-53 loss at Purdue.

UNO stayed close to the Boilermakers early, even taking a 19-17 lead on Tyson Jackson's improbable banked three-point shot from the top of the key.  But Purdue, despite playing without All-American center Zach Edey, ripped off a 24-2 run to end the half to secure the victory, although the Privateers (3-8) fought them to nearly even in the second half.

Jordan Johnson led New Orleans with 17 points, while Jackson added 14.

UNO's non-conference schedule is concluded, and after the Christmas break, they will head to Houston Christian to start Southland play next Friday.

Privateers Fight Off Dillard

The Privateers (3-7) broke open a close game in the second half, then fought off a rally to secure a 79-71 win over Dillard at Lakefront Arena on Monday night.

UNO led by one at the half and maintained that one-point lead at 45-44 before the Privateers ripped off a 14-3 run to get themselves some breathing room.  The NAIA Bleu Devils stormed back to within three at 62-59 but could not complete the comeback.

Jordan Johnson led a balanced New Orleans attack with 18 points, and K'mani Doughty added 17.  Johnson and Doughty drained three treys each.  In the interior, Simeon Kirkland had 12 points and Tyson Jackson 11.  Jackson added 10 rebounds to lead UNO.

The Privateers will turn around and head to West Lafayette, Indiana to take on the top-ranked team in the nation, the Purdue Boilermakers, on ESPNU on Wednesday night.

Boise Blasts UNO

Guard Jordan Johnson

The UNO basketball team finished up a two-game west coast swing with a 91-50 thumping at Boise State.

Coupled with the blowout loss at Portland on Saturday, New Orleans was outscored by a combined 80 points on the trip.

Trailing 42-28 at the half, the Privateers (2-7) surrendered a 20-0 run early in the second half to end any thoughts of challenging the Broncos.

Jordan Johnson led UNO with 14 points but shot just 4-for-13 to get there.  The Privateers shot just 32% as a team.

New Orleans returns home next Monday evening to face Dillard.

UNO Blown Out at Portland

Marquez Cooper

The Privateers (2-6) had another nightmarish night in Portland, getting dismantled by the host Pilots 100-61.

New Orleans, which got blown out by Portland in The Basketball Classic last March, got an even worse beating this season.  UNO actually led 13-11 early on before the Pilots ripped off 11 straight points as part of a decisive 23-4 run, from which the Privateers never recovered.

Portland shot an incredible 13-for-22 from beyond the arc in the first half.  They finished 18-for-35.

Tyson Jackson and Marquez Cooper each led the UNO offense with 10 points each.

The Privateers continue their western road trip on Tuesday at Boise State.

Cajuns Win Late at UNO

Johnson led UNO with 22

Despite a game effort from the underdog Privateers, UL Lafayette eked out a 78-77 win in Lakefront Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The Ragin' Cajuns maintained a small lead for most of the first half, but Jordan Johnson bombed a three at the halftime buzzer to pull New Orleans within 33-32.

UNO nudged ahead early in the second half, but with the Privateers clinging to a 44-42 lead, ULL ripped off a 12-0 run.  The host team fought back and actually took the lead on Johnson's drive and score with just over a minute left.  Then, with the game tied at 74, Johnson drilled a step back three to put UNO ahead with 42 seconds left.

But ULL scored to cut the lead to 77-76, and both teams traded turnovers.  Then Khaleb Wilson-Rouse missed two free throws, Jalen Dalcourt made two, and the Cajuns pulled it off.

Johnson led the UNO scoring with 22 points.  Tyson Jackson had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Simeon Kirkland added 12 as well.  Sackey had 7 assists.

New Orleans will next head to Portland in a week for a quick two-game west coast road trip.

Denver Finishes 3-0 in Big Easy Classic

Forward Omarion Henry

With a narrow 77-76 victory over host New Orleans, the Denver Pioneers finished a perfect 3-0 run in the Big Easy Classic.

After a slow start that saw Denver open up an early 16-5 lead, the Privateers rallied with their most solid effort of the season to date, taking the lead down the stretch.  But with the game tied at 71 apiece, the Pioneers' Tommy Bruner made six consecutive late free throws to give Denver just enough for the win.

UNO's Omarion Henry, a freshman playing in his sixth college game, led five scorers in double digits with a career-high 17 points.  Khaleb Wilson-Rouse added 16, including four three-pointers.  Justin Mullins led all scorers with 27 for Denver.

The Privateers next take the court next Saturday night at Lakefront Arena against Louisiana Lafayette.

Privateers Outscore IUPUI

K'mani Doughty led UNO
with 20 points

In their second game in the Big Easy Classic, the Privateers (2-3) got their first win over a Division I opponent, edging IUPUI 87-84.

The game was nip-and-tuck throughout, with Bryce Monroe keeping the visiting Jaguars in the game with a brilliant 29-point effort on 13-of-20 shooting.  UNO led 45-42 at the half.

Up 83-81, New Orleans got a critical steal and score from Simeon Kirkland in the waning moments to help seal the victory.

UNO allowed IUPUI to shoot a blistering 64% from the field for the game, but the Privateers shot 53% themselves, including nine three-pointers.

K'mani Doughty and Khaleb Wilson-Rouse each contributed greatly in the second half.  Doughty finished with 20 for the game, and Wilson-Rouse added 16.  Doughty also had 7 rebounds and 5 assists.  Jordan Johnson had 14 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals.  Omarion Henry came off the bench with a solid 11-point, 8-rebound effort.  New Orleans got four three-pointers from Wilson-Rouse and three from Johnson.

The Privateers face Denver on Friday afternoon in their final game in the Big Easy Classic.

In the late game, Denver won its second game in as many days, knocking off The Citadel 74-71 behind Tyree Corbett's 30 points and 12 rebounds.

Bulldogs Rally in the Big Easy

Jordan Johnson led the
way with 17 points

In the first game of the Big Easy Classic at Lakefront Arena, The Citadel put together a 14-0 second half run that made the difference, besting New Orleans 72-65.

The visiting Bulldogs led most of the first half, but the Privateers' small surge near the break gave them a 35-29 lead.  With UNO still up 43-39 in the second half, The Citadel's run, with 10 of the 14 points scored by Austin Ash, gave them the lead for good.

Jordan Johnson led the UNO scoring with 17 points, including a late flurry.  But the Privateers shot just 33% from the field and 5-for-20 from three-point range.

New Orleans will next take on IUPUI tomorrow on the lakefront in a Thanksgiving Day 2 p.m. tilt.

The second game of the day pitted that IUPUI team against UNO's Friday opponent, the Denver Pioneers.  Denver, behind Tevin Smith's 19 points, cruised to a comfortable 86-64 win over the Jaguars.

LSU Drubs UNO

The Privateers (1-2) were never competitive in a 91-62 drubbing in Baton Rouge at the hands of LSU.

UNO took an early 6-2 lead, but LSU ripped off a 9-0 run in response and never looked back.  They led by 22 at the half and were not threatened.

Khaleb Wilson-Rouse was the bright spot for New Orleans, dropping 21 points and five three pointers on the Tigers, as well as leading the team with 8 rebounds.  Tyson Jackson added 14 points.

UNO will next be in action in the Big Easy Classic at Lakefront Arena beginning on Wednesday afternoon.

Privateers Win Turnover Fest

Guard Jordan Johnson

The Privateers (1-1) eked out a sloppy win over non-Division I St. Francis (Illinois) at Lakefront Arena on Homecoming Saturday afternoon, 65-63.

St. Francis was able to stay within striking distance the whole way despite a whopping 33 turnovers.  They trailed UNO just 32-30 at the half and took the lead down the stretch, largely due to carelessness and out-of-sync play by New Orleans as well as a 10-for-24 performance as a team from beyond the arc.

But a three-pointer by Khaleb Wilson-Rouse tied the game back up, and Spencer Simes' free throws put New Orleans ahead for good.

Jordan Johnson and Wilson-Rouse led UNO in scoring with 14 each.

The Privateers will next travel to Baton Rouge for a contest against LSU on November 17.

Lake Not Awakened

In a campus vote held on November 7-8, the students of the University of New Orleans rejected a Student Experience fee that would have gone towards funding football, women's soccer, women's golf, and a marching band as well as various retention and diversity measures and intramural sports enhancements.

The fee went down overwhelmingly, 69% to 31%.

Butler Blasts Privateers To Open Season

UNO's new basketball season began much like the previous one ended, with a noncompetitive loss on the road.

New Orleans (0-1) was never in this one, trailing early to the host Butler Bulldogs, falling behind by double digits and ultimately trailing 46-21 at halftime.  It did not get any better in the second half, and the Privateers fell by an 89-53 final.

Jordan Johnson was a bright spot for UNO, notching 15 points in his debut including 4-for-7 from downtown.  Tyson Jackson added 14 but, in a game where the Privateer bigs were hoping to be a force, only garnered one rebound.  New Orleans was outscored 54-24 in the paint.

The home opener is Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., homecoming, against St. Francis (Illinois).

#WakeTheLake Campaign Launches

UNO Football: Recent Media Pieces

NOLA.com

WDSU

Privateers Beaten Twice by SLU, Season Over

With two chances to win one game, the Privateers couldn't get it done in Hammond, falling twice to SLU, 25-4 on Saturday and 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday.

Coming out of the loser's bracket, the host Lions needed to beat New Orleans twice at Alumni Field.  Having swept UNO there in the regular season, Southeastern simply picked up where they left off, chasing UNO starter Beau Blanchard in the first inning of game one en route to the massive rout.

On Sunday, the Privateer pitching was solid, but so was SLU's.  Playing their fifth game in four days, the Lions pitching staff nevertheless limited the Bucs to four hits and three runs over 10 innings.  Brandon Mitchell, Caleb Seroski, and Jack Williams gave the visitors several quality innings, but UNO fell short.  It is the second consecutive season to end at SLU's hands at Alumni Field.

The Privateers finish the 2022 campaign with a 30-23 record.

UNO In the Driver's Seat in Hammond

New Orleans fought past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday night at Alumni Field by a 10-9 score to take the driver's seat of the Hammond bracket heading into Saturday.

The Privateers (30-21), now winners of four in a row, got four hits from Miguel Useche and a timely homer from Isaac Williams to fuel their offense.  The Williams homer put UNO up 10-6, and they were barely able to withstand a late Islanders rally.

Weather permitting, Corpus will now take on host Southeastern in game one on Saturday, with the winner surviving to face the Privateers in the evening game.  They will need to beat UNO in that game and then again on Sunday to take the bracket; the Bucs will only need to win once.

Privateers Win SLC Tournament Opener

Amani Larry had a three-run
bomb for the Privateers

In Hammond for the first phase of the two-weekend-long Southland baseball tournament, the Privateers (29-21) blasted Houston Baptist 10-3 in the opening round on Thursday afternoon.

Miguel Useche had a grand slam to give New Orleans the lead in the third inning, and Amani Larry blasted a three-run homer in the eighth for insurance.  Kasten Furr led the lineup with four hits.

Starting pitcher Tyler LeBlanc tossed seven solid innings for the win, allowing three runs and six hits over seven innings.

UNO will next face the winner of tonight's game, which pits host Southeastern Louisiana against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.  That game will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday on ESPN+.

NWST takes 2 of 3 on Opening Weekend

Pearce Howard had
three hits on Friday

Opening Southland Conference play, the Privateer baseball team (13-9, 1-2) dropped two straight to Northwestern State over the weekend after walking off the Demons on Friday night.

In that Friday contest, UNO trailed 6-5 heading to the bottom of the ninth.  But with two runners on, Pearce Howard singled in the tying run, and then a wild throw off Anthony Herron, Jr.'s ground ball allowed the winning run to score.  Jack Williams' five innings of shutout relief were key.  Herron and Amani Larry homered for the home team.

On Saturday, a masterful complete game shutout by Northwestern State's Johnathan Harmon felled New Orleans, who mustered just four hits and scored just one unearned run. Brandon Mitchell had a quality start for UNO, but in vain as the Demons won 2-1.

On Sunday, the visitors broke open a 1-1 tie with a nine-run sixth and a five-run seventh, pummeling the UNO bullpen en route to a 16-10 victory.  Jeissy de la Cruz did bash three hits and a home run in the losing effort.

Privateers Bow Out at Portland

Playing in the first round of The Basketball Classic, the Privateers had a listless effort at Portland, falling 94-73 to bring an end to their season.

Troy Green, playing for UNO for the final time, turned in a solid 17-point effort on 6-of-9 shooting.  Derek St. Hilaire also had double digits with 14 but shot just 4-for-18, continuing his late year slump.

New Orleans finishes 18-14.

SLU Ends Privateers' Tournament Run

New Orleans' season ended in the Southand tournament semifinals in Katy, Texas; Southeastern Louisiana bested UNO 74-65.

Troy Green's stellar UNO career ended on a 24-point effort, which led the team.  Green also grabbed 12 rebounds, which also led the team.  Derek St. Hilaire's ended on a much weaker note, as he shot 4-for-20 and couldn't buy a bucket, repeatedly frustrated by SLU's Jalyn Hinton, who had seven blocks.

The Lions continue to the championship game tomorrow vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Privateers finish 18-13.

UNO Rallies to Win in SLC Quarterfinals

Facing elimination against 11-21 McNeese in the second round of the Southland tournament, New Orleans (18-12) pulled it out of the fire, besting the Cowboys 82-78.

Trailing most of the second half and facing a 70-66 deficit with just minutes to play, UNO launched a game-deciding 11-0 run to secure a come-from-behind victory.

Troy Green led the effort with 21 points.  Derek St. Hilaire was largely neutralized but mustered 16 points.  Jahmel Myers continued his nice late-season run with another 10-point contribution.  Daniel Sackey also had 10.

The Privateers survive to face Southeastern Louisiana in the semifinals on Friday night.

Nicholls Claims SLC Regular Season Title

With the league regular season title on the line, Nicholls made every play they needed to and bested the visiting Privateers 92-85.

With a de facto showdown for Conference Player of the Year highlighting the game, Nicholls' Ty Gordon easily bested UNO's Derek St. Hilaire.  Gordon dominated with a season-high 36 points and seven three pointers, while St. Hilaire shot 6-for-21 en route to 26 points.  Nicholls shot 53% for the game, consistently solving the New Orleans defense.

St. Hilaire did lead UNO in points, and Troy Green added a gutty 21 to the effort.  Tyson Jackson had 15.

UNO played its way out of the double bye by losing three of its last four games, and will thus play in the SLC quarterfinals on Thursday against an opponent to be determined.

Green Leads Furious UNO Rally

New Orleans rallied from a huge second half deficit to survive Houston Baptist on the Lakefront, 75-74.

The Privateers had a rough first half, and it just got worse early in the second.  The Huskies extended their 10-point lead to a whopping 17 at 53-36 before Troy Green and UNO began its furious rally, finally overtaking HBU at 67-65.

With the Bucs up 75-71, the Huskies connected on one of their 12 three-pointers for the game, and after a stop, HBU stalwart Darius Lee took on Troy Green one-on-one for the game.  Green held his ground, forcing Lee to throw the ball away, and UNO's one-point win was preserved.

Green led New Orleans with a brilliant 28-point performance on 11-for-15 shooting.  Derek St. Hilaire had a rough night from the floor but still managed 16. Jahmel Myers had a solid performance off the bench with 12.

The regular season finale is on Saturday afternoon at Nicholls, with the conference title on the line.

UNO Takes Series From Kansas

Seroski saved both UNO
victories over the weekend

New Orleans baseball ran its early season record to 5-1 by winning two of three over the Kansas Jayhawks at Maestri Field.

Exacting revenge for UNO's 1991 NCAA basketball tournament loss to the Jayhawks, the Privateers opened the series with a narrow 4-3 victory on Friday night, bolstered by a Pearce Howard home run.  Tyler LeBlanc got the win in relief, and Caleb Seroski got the save.

On Saturday, New Orleans fell behind in the fourth inning and never rallied, losing in convincing fashion 8-2.

On Sunday, the Privateers got back on track, opening a 5-0 lead on KU and hanging on for the 5-2 victory.  Collin Horton got his second consecutive Sunday start and pitched four hitless, scoreless innings.  Jack Williams pitched three innings in relief for the win, and Seroski again got the save.

UNO travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Wednesday night.

UNO Drops Second in a Row

New Orleans (16-11, 9-3) finished a tough week on the road on Saturday afternoon, falling at Northwestern State 87-77.

UNO slipped out of first place as another shaky defensive effort doomed them in Natchitoches.  Much like Thursday night, a subpar first half filled with turnovers put the Privateers behind the eight ball, and they never could quite recover, hanging around but never quite overtaking the host Demons.

Derek St. Hilaire did shake out of his doldrums with a fine second half effort and a total of 25 points.  He also led the team's rebounding effort with 7.  Troy Green added 18 points.

UNO returns home for a Wednesday game against Houston Baptist.  If they win, they will play for the conference regular season title next Saturday at Nicholls.

Privateers Falter Late, Lose at SLU

Guard Daniel Sackey

A late push by the host Southeastern Louisiana Lions was enough to best New Orleans on Thursday, 84-79.

With UNO up 70-69 late, they failed to extend the lead on consecutive trips, then surrendered a game-deciding 9-0 run to seal their fate.  While the Privateers got solid contributions from several role players, their big guns Troy Green and Derek St. Hilaire were largely frustrated and stymied, shooting a combined 11-for-28 and 0-for-8 from beyond the arc.

St. Hilaire did lead UNO scorers with 15, and Green, Simeon Kirkland, and Daniel Sackey all added 14.  Sackey hit 4-for-5 from deep.

UNO will have to conquer the road to win the league, and they'll get another shot on Saturday at Northwestern State.

UNO Dominates Dawson Classic

(Courtesy: UNO Athletics)

The Privateer baseball team got its 2022 season off to a thunderous start, going 3-0 and outscoring its opponents 31-5 at the Andre Dawson Classic in New Orleans.

With all of its games being played at Maestri Field, New Orleans defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 9-3, Grambling 12-2, and Alabama State 10-0.  The latter two games were ended early on the run rule.

UNO got heavy contributions from newcomers over the weekend.  Starting pitchers Dylan Porter and Collin Horton combined for 9 1/3 scoreless innings over Saturday's and Sunday's games.  New second baseman Amani Larry and new first baseman (and preseason all-SLC selection) Anthony Herron, Jr. each homered for the Bucs.

The Privateers will get the week off before welcoming the Kansas Jayhawks to Maestri Field for a three-game series next Friday through Sunday.

UNO beats McNeese, Goes to 9-1 in SLC

St. Hilaire led the way with 27

The New Orleans Privateers remained in first place in the Southland Conference, easily beating McNeese 88-75 at Lakefront Arena on Saturday.

The visiting Cowboys never led, as UNO (16-9, 9-1) jumped all over them from the outset.  The Privateers led by 17 at halftime and were never seriously threatened, though McNeese did briefly cut the lead to single digits down the stretch.

Conference player of the year candidate Derek St. Hilaire had another fine outing on Senior Day, leading the team with 27 points.  Tyson Jackson continued his nice run of late, contributing 14 points and a team-leading 6 rebounds.  Troy Green added 11 points.

New Orleans now heads into the final phase of the Southland regular season with three of its last four on the road, starting next Thursday at Southeastern Louisiana.

Privateers Clobber UIW in Rematch

After dropping a close one to Southland bottom dweller Incarnate Word a week ago, the Privateers (15-9, 8-1) exacted revenge on the lakefront with an 84-57 victory over the Cardinals.

New Orleans broke open what was a close game for the first few minutes, using a 19-2 run to extend their lead to 35-16.  UNO led by as many as 26 in the second half and was never threatened.

Troy Green led a balanced Privateer attack with 18 points.  Tyson Jackson added 16, and Simeon Kirkland has 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.

UNO, remaining in first place with the victory, gets a week off before taking on McNeese next Saturday on the lakefront.

Privateers Sweep TAMU-CC

Troy Green led UNO
with 29 points

Back home after a bad loss at Incarnate Word, the Privateers gutted out a 78-69 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for its second win over the Islanders in the past week.

TAMU-CC, geared up for revenge after a home court loss to New Orleans last week, came out firing early, taking a 28-19 lead in a spirited effort.  But a barrage of three pointers got the Privateers (14-9, 7-1) back into it.  The Islanders took a slim 37-34 lead into the break, and maintained that lead well into the second half.  But the Bucs, down 53-47, ripped off a 12-0 run to turn the game around and maintained the lead until the end.

A superlative effort from UNO's Troy Green and Derek St. Hilaire carried the day.  St. Hilaire had 22 points before fouling out with just under three minutes left to play, but Green carried New Orleans down the stretch, finishing with a game-high 29.  The Privateers uncharacteristically made eight three pointers, which helped them make up for a 44-32 rebound deficit.

On Saturday afternoon, UNO will have a rematch with Incarnate Word on the lakefront.

Privateers Fall at UIW

Perhaps overconfident after a 6-0 conference start, the Privateers fell at previously winless Incarnate Word, 78-70.

New Orleans (13-9, 6-1) sleepwalked through the first half, trailing 38-27 and neglecting to defend the Cardinals' R.J. Glasper, who had 24 points and six threes before the break.  UNO fell behind by 16 in the second half, but a furious rally brought them to within one with just under a minute left.  But with UIW clinging to a 69-68 lead, Glasper hit a leaning jumper for a critical three-point play to salt away the win.  He finished with 34 points.

UNO was led by Derek St. Hilaire with 22, and Troy Green added 19.  Kmani Doughty had 11 including three treys.

New Orleans returns home for a repeat of this week's games, TAMU-CC on Thursday and UIW on Saturday.

9 In a Row: UNO Wins at TAMU-CC

Taking the floor as a slight underdog on an eight-game winning streak, the Privateers won a physical battle at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 79-70.

In a game that saw a combined 85 free throws, New Orleans (13-8, 6-0) grabbed control early, held a 9-point lead at the break, extended that lead into double digits in the second half, and withstood a late Islanders charge to win their third game of this four-game road trip.

Derek St. Hilaire once again led the UNO attack with 25 points.  Troy Green added 13, and Tyson Jackson chipped in 11.  Simeon Kirkland led all Privateers with 11 rebounds.  UNO held TAMU-CC to an icy 33% from the field, and the Islanders helped by missing 17 free throws.

New Orleans completes the road trip with a visit to Incarnate Word on Saturday afternoon on ESPN+.

UNO Beats McNeese, Winning Streak to 8

Senior G Troy Green

McNeese State was the last team to beat UNO eight games ago, but they couldn't do it this time; the Privateers won 84-78 in Lake Charles on Sunday evening.

The Cowboys got off to a fast start, opening up a 28-15 lead early before New Orleans (12-8, 5-0) began chipping away.  Though McNeese led most of the way in the second half, UNO was able to grab the lead late on two Troy Green free throws, then a Green steal plus an and-1 to go up 77-73.

Green posted 22 points, including a sparkling 12-for-12 from the foul line, where the visitors shot 89% as a whole.  Derek St. Hilaire rode a strong second half to a team-leading 23 points of his own, as well as a team best 6 assists.  Tyson Jackson added 14.

The Privateers next head to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for game three of this four-game road trip.

Privateers Win at HBU, Go To 4-0

SR G Derek St. Hilaire

Facing their first road test of the Southland Conference season, the Privateers (11-8, 4-0) fought off a Houston Baptist rally and surged late to knock off the Huskies 77-66.

New Orleans was carried by a dominant performance from Derek St. Hilaire, who scored 21 in the first half without missing a shot.  He finished with 34.

UNO squandered a 12-point second half lead and fell behind 59-57 before a 7-0 spurt put them back in front.  They were able to reestablish control down the stretch and finish the victory.  They allowed HBU to shoot just 34% from the field while forcing 18 turnovers.

Next up is a matchup against McNeese in Lake Charles on Sunday, which will be televised on ESPNU.

Privateers 3-0 After Besting NWST

(Courtesy: UNO
Athletics)

The Privateers completed a sweep of their three-game Southland season opening homestand, knocking off Northwestern State 85-77.

New Orleans opened up a huge early lead, stretching it to as many as 18 before heading to the locker room up 44-31.  But they came back out sluggish, and the Demons chipped away at the lead until they crept to within 53-51.  At that point, though, UNO (10-8, 3-0) went on a 6-0 run to reestablish themselves, and despite a continued NWST push, they could not quite catch up and fell in the end.

Derek St. Hilaire had another tremendous performance, piling on 29 points, and his backcourt mate Troy Green added 16.  Green also continued his early season torrid rebounding pace with another 9 to lead the squad.  Tyson Jackson and Simeon Kirkland had 11 each in the post for UNO, with Jackson adding 8 rebounds of his own.

Now the Privateers must hit the road for four in a row, starting with Thursday night at Houston Baptist.

Privateers Rally, Edge Southeastern

The Privateers gutted out a comeback victory on the lakefront over Southeastern, 78-72 on Thursday night.

UNO (9-8, 2-0) trailed by as many as 14 in the first half and faced a 41-30 halftime deficit.  They immediately began chipping away at the lead in the second half before finally going up 69-68 on a Daniel Sackey layup late.

Derek St. Hilaire led the way for the Privateers with 19 points, including 16 in the second half.  Troy Green contributed with 16, and Sackey had 11 and 4 assists, including a critical late dish to Jahmel Myers for a critical bucket down the stretch.  Simeon Kirkland rounded out the Privateers in double digits with 14.

New Orleans faces Northwestern State, again at home, on Saturday afternoon.

UNO Wins Conference Opener over Nicholls

Derek St. Hilaire takes on
Nicholls' Ty Gordon

In Saturday's Southland Conference opener on the lakefront, the New Orleans Privateers made an early statement, besting conference favorite Nicholls 78-66.

Derek St. Hilaire got the Privateers (8-8, 1-0) off to a good start, notching 14 points in the first half on the way to a 37-32 lead at the break.  Though they got close, Nicholls never grabbed the lead in the second half in the face of a stifling UNO defense.

St. Hilaire ended up with 23 points overall, but Troy Green led the way with a fine effort with 26, draining many crucial free throws down the stretch.  The Colonels shot just 5-for-24 from downtown.

UNO stays home and will take on another Southland rival, Southeastern Louisiana, on Thursday.

Privateers Win Last Pre-SLC Tuneup

Troy Green had 20

Coming off of a 2-1 showing at the Southland Tip-Off Tournament last weekend, the Privateers (7-8) played their final pre-conference tuneup on Tuesday night, besting Dillard 93-66.

New Orleans fought off some early scrappiness from the Bleu Devils, who trailed just 24-22 before UNO ripped off a 7-0 run to establish control.  The Privateers led 46-32 at the break and extended their lead beyond 20 through much of the second half.

Playing without leading scorer Derek St. Hilaire, the rest of the Privateer backcourt picked up the slack.  Troy Green led the way in scoring with 20, Rodney Carson had 17, and Kmani Doughty added 13.  Daniel Sackey was all over the stat sheet, notching 11 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.  Rodney Carson also had 12, and Tyson Jackson added 12 in the trenches for the Bucs.

Nicholls will head to the lakefront on Saturday to open UNO's Southland Conference season.