Box Score LAFAYETTE, La. ? The University of New Orleans had a nine-point lead at halftime of its Sun Belt Conference game on Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette. The problem was it was in Lafayette.
The Privateers saw their struggles in the Cajundome continue, dropping a frustrating 67-57 contest in front of a season-high 5,621 fans.
David Dees paced the Cajuns (7-7, 4-0 Sun Belt) with 14 points, as ULL started 4-0 in league play for just the fourth time in program history. Randell Daigle added 13 points, including two clutch 3-pointers late in the second half. ULL had 11 different players dent the scoring book.
Bo McCalebb led the Privateers (11-4, 1-2) with 26 points, while James Parlow added 13 points before being ejected after receiving two technical fouls with 45.7 seconds left.
It marked the Privateers' 11th straight loss at ULL and 13th straight in the Cajundome.
UNO struggled mightily from the field and on the boards. The Privateers shot a season-low 32 percent and were out-boarded 48-35 (18-12 offensive).
The Privateers also did not get a single point from their bench and shot just 26 percent in the second half.
“We couldn't block out and get the ball off the miss,” said UNO head coach Joe Pasternack. “The difference in the game was on the boards.”
UNO led for virtually the entire first half before taking a 32-23 lead at halftime. The Privateers shot just 37 percent and were out-rebounded 28-18 (13-5 offensive). But the Cajuns shot just 29 percent and were hampered by nine turnovers.
Parlow and McCalebb combined for 21 points, while the Cajuns stayed in it with 16 points from their bench.
The Privateers led 36-23 with 17:37 left in the second half before things began to unravel. ULL went on a 13-2 run during the next six minutes and took its first lead of the half on a Willie Lago 3-pointer that gave ULL a 47-46 lead with 8:23 left.
The game went back and forth and was tied after McCalebb hit a pair of free throws with 4:02 remaining. The Cajuns, though, went on a crucial 9-2 run thanks to a Dees 3-point play and back-to-back treys from Daigle.
ULL outscored UNO 14-4 in the game's final four minutes.
“We had the game in our grasp and we let it slip away,” Pasternack said. “They hit some big shots down the stretch.”
UNO will host Denver at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Human Performance Center.
